ICE Officer fired a single round that struck 28‑year‑old Wilber Garces Pérez during a DoorDash delivery in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The officer reportedly claimed the driver was attempting to evade him, but the driver was not fleeing.
Perez was taken to St. David's Medical Center, where doctors noted a bullet lodged near his spine and he lost movement on his left side. After a brief stay, he was transferred to the Pearsall Detention Facility, roughly 100 miles away, without removal of the projectile.
Attorney Kate Lincoln‑Goldfinch argues the detainee was denied adequate medical care and that the officers did not use lights or sirens before the incident, insisting the shooting followed a sideswipe rather than a pursuit. She highlighted that doctors had not extracted the bullet because it was too close to the spine.
Rep. Greg Casar demanded the release of body‑camera footage and a thorough investigation, while Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the department will let evidence guide the inquiry. Protesters carrying Mexican and Guatemalan flags gathered near the scene, voicing their anger at ICE’s presence in Austin.
The Department of Homeland Security is leading the probe and is expected to release the footage once the review is complete, potentially prompting a judicial hearing on the use of force.