ICE Officer Shot DoorDash Driver in Austin, Bodycam Footage Released
On Sunday, Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28‑year‑old DoorDash driver, was shot by an ICE officer while making a delivery in Austin, Texas. The officer failed to wear his assigned body camera, prompting Austin police to release partial footage from a different officer on scene. Garcés Pérez was hosp…
By Felo News Desk · Published
On the afternoon of Sunday, a routine food‑delivery shift turned deadly for Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28‑year‑old Venezuelan national working as a DoorDash driver in Austin, Texas. While attempting a U‑turn on a residential street, an unmarked black truck—identified as an ICE vehicle—sideswiped him. The driver was then pulled from his vehicle and shot in the back by an ICE officer. The bullet lodged near Garcés Pérez’s spine, leaving him with a fractured clavicle and a sudden loss of movement in his left arm.
ICE Protocols and the Bodycam Omission
The incident drew immediate scrutiny because the officer who fired the weapon was not wearing his assigned body‑camera. Two officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the officer had a body‑camera issued but chose not to activate it during the encounter. In contrast, a second ICE officer in the same vehicle was wearing a camera, which captured partial footage of the scene but did not record the actual shooting. The footage was later released by the Austin Police Department, providing a limited view of the confrontation but leaving the moment of the gunfire missing.
Medical Care and Detention Conditions
After the shooting, Garcés Pérez was taken to a local hospital where he spent several hours receiving treatment for pain and the fractured clavicle. His attorney, Kate Lincoln‑Goldfinch, reported that the driver was discharged from the hospital around midnight and immediately returned to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas. There, he was placed on a flat, non‑adjustable bed in an isolated room and stripped of his tablet, which he used to communicate with family and legal counsel. Lincoln‑Goldfinch alleged that guards forcibly removed the tablet, revoked his communication privileges, and moved him from the infirmary to an isolated area.
Garcés Pérez’s condition was described as stable by DHS, yet his attorney and several Texas lawmakers have expressed concern that the detainee is not receiving adequate medical care. The attorney noted that he was given morphine for pain but was still experiencing significant swelling and paralysis. Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Greg Casar announced plans to visit the detainee and demand his release, citing the officer’s failure to wear a body camera and the questionable medical treatment he received.
Legal and Political Fallout
The shooting has ignited a broader debate over ICE’s use of force and the treatment of U.S. citizens and lawful residents in immigration detention. Garcés Pérez, who has been in the United States legally and was reportedly seeking asylum, was ordered deported in absentia after missing an immigration court hearing. His attorney claims he entered the country legally and that the missed notice was a procedural error. The incident also echoes a recent ICE operation outside Chicago where a U.S. citizen was mistakenly targeted and injured, further fueling criticism of the agency’s tactics.
Political pressure has intensified. Rep. Joaquin Castro has called for the immediate release of Garcés Pérez, while Rep. Greg Casar has demanded that ICE release the officer’s name and provide a full account of the incident. The incident has also prompted discussions about the upcoming implementation of body cameras for all ICE officers, a policy that DHS officials say will roll out later this week.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Garcés Pérez remains in ICE custody, receiving pain medication but no clear medical bed or communication tools. His attorney continues to lobby for his release and for a comprehensive investigation into the shooting. DHS has yet to release a formal statement addressing the body‑camera omission or the detainee’s medical care. The incident is still under investigation, and the outcome will likely influence future ICE protocols and the broader debate over immigration enforcement practices in the United States.
Observers will be watching for the release of the full body‑camera footage, any forthcoming DHS statements, and the legal proceedings that may follow. The case underscores the need for transparency and accountability in federal immigration enforcement, especially when the use of force results in serious injury.
Key facts
- ICE officer shot DoorDash driver in Austin, failing to wear body camera
- Partial footage released by Austin police, but shooting moment missing
- Driver hospitalized, then returned to ICE detention under questionable conditions
- Lawmakers and attorney demand release and better medical care
- Incident reflects broader scrutiny of ICE use of force and detainee treatment
Why it matters
The incident highlights critical gaps in ICE’s operational protocols, especially regarding body‑camera usage and detainee medical care, raising concerns about accountability and the safety of individuals in federal custody.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the ICE officer not wearing his body camera?
DHS officials said it was unclear why the officer chose not to wear the camera, but the officer had one issued. The second officer in the vehicle did wear a camera, which captured partial footage of the incident.
What medical treatment did Garcés Pérez receive?
He was treated for a fractured clavicle and pain at a local hospital, given morphine, and later returned to ICE detention where he was placed on a flat bed and denied communication tools.
Is the incident under investigation?
Yes, the shooting is still being investigated by DHS and local authorities, and the full body‑camera footage has not yet been released.
Sources
- [1] nbcnews.com
- [2] nbcnews.com
