One person was shot by a federal Immigration Enforcement Officer in Austin on Sunday, according to the Austin Police Department.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said this shooting comes after an increase in detentions by ICE in Austin.
“It is awful that this horror has come to our doorstep,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin).
At approximately 12:56 p.m., Austin Travis County EMS responded to a reported shooting at the 8000 block of Anderson Square, according to Austin PD officials.
EMS identified a man who had suffered one gunshot wound to the torso. The victim was taken to the hospital and is in serious but stable condition, officials said.
Austin Chief of Police Lisa Davis said there was a foot pursuit before the victim was shot.
Austin PD was not involved, but did help with traffic control while conducting an investigation. Austin Police Department’s special investigation unit and Texas Rangers will conduct an investigation, according to Davis.
The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. He is a Venezuelan national here illegally with a final order of removal, according to a law enforcement source.
Attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, who is representing Perez, said he currently lives in Austin with his wife and works as a DoorDash driver. Perez was making a delivery when the incident happened. He has since been released from the hospital, and Lincoln-Goldfinch believes he is in ICE’s custody.
“After he was held for approximately six hours, officers declined to provide his wife with meaningful information about his status or circumstances. We are deeply concerned that his wife and family have not been permitted to see him and have not received a meaningful update regarding his current condition or whereabouts,” Lincoln-Goldfinch said in a statement.
Watson said he wanted the city’s police department to be involved in the investigation to provide “clear, third-party eyes.” He also said it would not be appropriate for ICE to conduct the investigation on its own.
“I think the message remains that for Austin to be safe, ICE should end its surge here in our community,” Casar said.
Officials reactions & statements
James Talarico released a statement calling for a full independent investigation.
“I am closely following reports of a shooting involving federal immigration officials in Austin. Previous incidents have shown that this agency cannot be trusted to report all the facts. We need a full, independent investigation that includes the release of any and all available footage. As we seek further information, my prayers are with those impacted and with the Austin community.”
The Texas House Democrats released a statement saying Texans deserve a full, independent investigation, a release of available footage and real accountability from ICE.
“Today’s ICE shooting in Austin comes just months after an ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston – someone ICE later acknowledged was not the target of its operation. The Trump administration, enabled by Republicans, has given ICE enormous power and no accountability, and Texans are the ones living with the consequences. This pattern of violence, secrecy, and unchecked federal power is not making our communities safer. It is spreading fear through Texas neighborhoods and leaving families with more questions than answers. Texans deserve a full, independent investigation into today’s shooting, the immediate release of all available footage, and real accountability from ICE. No federal agency should be allowed to operate in our communities without transparency or oversight.”
This story originally appeared on NBCDFW.com.
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