Who is Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, the DoorDash worker shot by an ICE agent in Austin?
The 28-year-old Venezuelan was injured during an immigration operation while making a delivery.
W ilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan man, was identified as the man who was shot by an agent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an operation in Austin, Texas. At the time of the incident, according to his attorney, he was working for DoorDash.
According to his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, he was working for DoorDash at the time, something the company itself confirmed: he was making a delivery when the incident occurred . Austin Police clarified that its officers were not involved in the shooting
Conflicting versions of the case
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 20, in north Austin and has gained national prominence due to the deep contradictions between the official and defense versions, as well as the community protests it sparked.
His immigration attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, initially stated that Garcés Pérez entered the United States legally (under a parole program as an asylum seeker), had a valid work permit and had no criminal record. He is married to a woman who has legal immigration status in the country.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) classified him as an "illegal alien" and reported that federal agents proceeded to stop him because there was a final deportation order against him.
DoorDash confirmed that Garces Pérez was making a delivery at the time of the shooting . The company said it is actively investigating the incident, but that it does not have any further details at this time. DoorDash also clarified that all delivery drivers are independent contractors, not employees.
According to preliminary reports from local police and witnesses, the shooting was triggered after a traffic stop and a subsequent short pursuit. A video taken after the altercation shows the young man's blue Toyota Corolla with bullet holes in the windows . In the recording, Garcés Pérez can be heard saying that they shot him "because he didn't stop."
The shooting sparked protests by dozens of demonstrators at the scene, with a heavy police presence. As the investigation continues, the family is seeking more information about what happened.
The city’s mayor, Kirk Watson, and Congressman Greg Casar have formally demanded that federal agencies release the body camera videos ( bodycams) and allow an independent investigation by local police and the Texas Rangers, criticizing the increase and aggressiveness of deportation operations in the area.
