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ICE Officer Shoots Venezuelan Delivery Driver During Austin Traffic Stop
Just the facts
An ICE officer shot and wounded 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan national working as a DoorDash driver, during a traffic stop on the north side of Austin, Texas. Garcés Pérez sustained a gunshot wound to the torso and was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition before being taken into custody. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed that Austin police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, while Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and U.S. Representative Greg Casar called for transparency and independent scrutiny. The Department of Homeland Security announced it is leading the investigation into the shooting alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while demonstrators gathered at the scene to protest federal immigration enforcement actions.
Why this is news
An enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Austin, Texas, resulted in an officer shooting and injuring a civilian on September 20, 2026. The incident prompted public protests and calls from municipal officials for an independent investigation.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.