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Date: September 21, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and wounded a man in Austin, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, prompting calls from local officials for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The shooting occurred shortly before 1 p.m. in the area of Anderson Square in North Austin. Austin-Travis County EMS said emergency crews responded within minutes after receiving a report of a shooting and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. He was transported to a local trauma centre in serious but stable condition.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the shooting involved an ICE agent and may have followed a brief foot pursuit. Local police were not involved in the shooting itself, although Austin police officers responded to the scene and assisted with traffic control and the investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety also said troopers had been called to assist with a vehicle pursuit but arrived after the shooting had already occurred.
The man was identified by his immigration lawyer as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national. His lawyer said he had been making DoorDash deliveries when the encounter occurred. Reuters reported that a law enforcement source said Perez was in the United States without legal status, while his lawyer said he had entered the country legally.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said its Homeland Security Investigations unit, with assistance from the FBI, was leading the investigation. The department said the man had entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration and was subject to a final order of removal. His lawyer has disputed aspects of the government's account, and the circumstances surrounding the encounter remain under investigation.
Following the shooting, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called for city police and the Texas Rangers to participate in the investigation. Watson said he wanted an investigation that would provide credibility and transparency rather than relying solely on an inquiry conducted by the federal agency whose officer was involved.
Federal authorities had not publicly released a detailed account of what led to the shooting, and Austin police officials said they had received limited information from federal authorities when they addressed reporters Sunday evening. CNN's reporting also indicated that local officials were seeking more information about the incident, including the circumstances of the possible foot chase.
The shooting quickly drew protesters to the area. Images from the scene showed demonstrators gathered near the location while police maintained a presence. The incident comes amid intensified immigration enforcement by the Trump administration and increased activity by federal immigration agents in Austin and other U.S. cities.
Perez was later released from hospital care into federal custody, according to his lawyer. His legal representatives said they were seeking information about his condition and whereabouts after he was transferred into ICE custody. Federal authorities said he remained in custody pending removal.
The incident remains under investigation by federal authorities, with local officials pushing for additional participation from Austin police and the Texas Rangers. Authorities have not publicly released body-camera footage or provided a complete account of the events immediately preceding the shooting.