The Austin Police Department released body camera footage Tuesday showing the moments after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during an attempted arrest. The shooting occurred Sunday in Austin while Garces Perez was reportedly delivering a DoorDash order. The videos show local officers helping him from his vehicle, examining his injuries and taking him into custody.
The footage includes what sounds like three gunshots and shows Garces Perez holding his left shoulder while seated in the driver’s seat. Authorities and his attorney have offered differing accounts of the events leading to the shooting, including the circumstances of the vehicle pursuit and the status of his immigration case.
| 1) | Bodycam footage details the immediate police response |
| 2) | The shooting followed an attempted immigration arrest |
| 3) | Conflicting accounts concern the vehicle pursuit |
| 4) | Officials dispute questions about immigration status |
| 5) | Garces Perez was treated and transferred to detention |
Bodycam footage details the immediate police response
Three short videos released by Austin police document the response after the Sunday shooting. One clip contains what sounds like three gunshots. In another, an officer arrives and finds Garces Perez hunched over in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, appearing to hold his left shoulder in pain.
Officers wearing body cameras assist him out of the vehicle and then arrest him. The footage appears to contradict claims that immigration agents dragged him from the car. An officer also requests shears to cut open his shirt and inspect the wounds.
The shooting followed an attempted immigration arrest
ICE officers were attempting to take Garces Perez into custody in Austin when the shooting occurred. He was 28 years old and had reportedly been delivering a DoorDash order. Authorities said he was the subject of an immigration enforcement action and had a final order of removal.
During the police response, an officer asks Garces Perez in Spanish whether he has any firearms. He answers no. Another officer is heard saying that he appears to have one gunshot wound.
“¿Tiene armas?”
“No,” Garces Perez replies.
Conflicting accounts concern the vehicle pursuit
The circumstances before the shooting remain disputed. Reports said Garces Perez made a U-turn under a highway while delivering the order, after which ICE agents continued to pursue him. His attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said an unmarked truck chased her client and sideswiped his vehicle before the shooting.
ICE has disputed rumors about the incident and rejected allegations that Garces Perez was indiscriminately targeted. The released footage primarily shows the aftermath and local police response rather than resolving every point of disagreement about the pursuit.
Officials dispute questions about immigration status
Authorities confirmed that Garces Perez had a final order of removal. Lincoln-Goldfinch said the order followed a hearing notice sent to a previous address, even though her client had updated his address with the court.
ICE also said Garces Perez’s work permit expired in 2025 and emphasized that a work permit does not itself confer legal status in the United States. The agency described the enforcement action as a targeted vehicle stop.
“What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S. Resisting officers and evading arrest is dangerous for our officers, illegal aliens, and the public.”
Garces Perez was treated and transferred to detention
ICE said Garces Perez was released from a hospital after treatment and arrived at an ICE detention facility several hours later. The agency said he slept on a bed after being transferred. The footage shows Austin officers examining his injury and assisting him before placing him under arrest.
The case has drawn attention to the use of vehicle stops during immigration enforcement and to questions about how the encounter unfolded. Further conclusions about the shooting will depend on the full investigation and review of the competing accounts.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Austin police released three bodycam videos Tuesday. |
| 2 | Garces Perez was shot while ICE officers attempted to arrest him Sunday. |
| 3 | His attorney and ICE provided different accounts of the pursuit. |
| 4 | ICE said he was treated at a hospital and transferred to detention. |
Summary
The bodycam footage provides a visual account of the immediate aftermath of the Austin shooting, including the local police response, the examination of Garces Perez’s injury and his arrest. It does not settle the disputed details surrounding the pursuit or the shooting itself. Officials and Garces Perez’s attorney continue to differ over the enforcement action and the handling of his immigration case.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the bodycam footage released?
The Austin Police Department released the footage Tuesday, after the shooting occurred Sunday.
Who was shot during the incident?
The person shot was 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant Wilber Rafael Garces Perez.
What does the footage show?
The videos show the aftermath, including what sounds like gunshots, Garces Perez inside his vehicle, officers helping him out, an examination of his wounds and his arrest.
What did ICE say about his case?
ICE said Garces Perez had a final order of removal, that his work permit expired in 2025 and that he was transferred to an ICE detention facility after being released from a hospital.
