ICE agent shoots Venezuelan DoorDash driver in back, leaves him partially paralyzed
Oct 4, 2026·Location: Austin, TX
Country of origin: Venezuela

Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who entered the U.S. legally through CBP One in 2024 and held a valid work permit, was shot in the back by an ICE agent on September 20, 2026, during a traffic stop while delivering for DoorDash in North Austin. Federal prosecutors allege he struck an officer with his car's side mirror and fled, while he says an unmarked ICE vehicle rammed and spun his car before he was shot, unaware it belonged to ICE. He suffered a fractured clavicle and a bullet lodged near his spine causing partial paralysis, and his attorney said he faced risk of infection without surgery and received no pain medication in custody. A federal magistrate judge found prosecutors had not clearly shown he was a danger to the community but ruled him a flight risk and denied bond; his attorney said he would pursue a habeas corpus case. He faces DOJ charges of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer carrying up to 20 years in prison, which his defense disputes, and a separate deportation order prompted his attorneys to sue to block removal. The shooting, partly captured on bystander video, prompted protests of over 150 people and calls from Rep. Greg Casar, Mayor Kirk Watson, and Rep. Joaquin Castro for an independent investigation and release of body-camera footage.
Timeline
Sources
- Protests as ICE agent shoots and wounds Venezuelan DoorDash driver in Texas
BBC·Sep 21, 2026·archived copy
BBC·Sep 21, 2026
- ICE Shooting of Immigrant in Texas Under Investigation: What to Know
TIME·Sep 21, 2026
- ICE officer shoots Venezuelan man delivering food in Austin, lawyer says
NBC News·Sep 21, 2026
- Reuters
- PBS
- Who is Wilber Rafael Garces Perez? DoorDash worker shot by ICE in Austin
Newsweek·Sep 21, 2026
- ICE agent shoots and wounds Venezuelan man at traffic stop in Austin, Texas
The Guardian·Sep 21, 2026
- Man shot by ICE in Austin being held in detention center with bullet in his back, lawyer says
CBS News·Sep 21, 2026
- Venezuelan shot by ICE seeks medical care as lawyer says bullet lodged in back
The Guardian·Sep 21, 2026
- A Venezuelan man was shot by ICE in Austin while doing deliveries. Here’s what we know
CNN·Sep 22, 2026
- Protesters gather in Austin after ICE agent shoots and wounds man – video
The Guardian·Sep 21, 2026
- Washington Post
- Man shot by ICE in Texas is back in detention after leaving hospital, attorney says
Los Angeles Times·Sep 23, 2026
- Reuters
- CBS News
- Congressman says Venezuelan man shot by ICE, then taken into custody, told he needs surgery
NBC News·Sep 24, 2026
- Venezuelan shot by ICE in Austin needs surgery to avoid losing feeling in body, supporters say
The Guardian·Sep 26, 2026
- Gone in 90 seconds: an ‘invisibilized’ ICE is arresting more people than ever
The Guardian·Sep 28, 2026
- Venezuelan man shot and wounded by ICE agent in Texas is charged with assaulting an officer
NBC News·Sep 29, 2026
- Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas charged with assault and resisting arrest
NPR·Sep 30, 2026
- PBS
- Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas charged with assaulting an officer
The Guardian·Sep 29, 2026
- Judge keeps Venezuelan DoorDash driver shot by ICE behind bars for alleged assault
CBS News·Oct 1, 2026
- Venezuelan man shot by ICE officer in Texas is charged with assault
Al Jazeera·Sep 29, 2026
- Washington Post
- Judge keeps immigrant delivery driver shot by ICE in custody for alleged assault
NBC News·Oct 1, 2026
- Man shot by ICE in Texas has surgery to remove bullet lodged in his back
The Guardian·Oct 2, 2026
- ICE Is Everywhere and Acting with Impunity
The New Yorker·Oct 4, 2026
- Replay of events: ICE agent shoots, wounds man in North Austin
statesman.com·Sep 20, 2026·archived copy
- ICE agent shoots and wounds man in Austin, Texas, officials say
local10.com·Sep 21, 2026
cnbc.com·Sep 20, 2026
- france24.com
- US: Man wounded in Texas after being shot by ICE agent
dw.com·Sep 21, 2026
- Man shot by ICE moved from hospital to detention center ‘with a bullet in his back,’ lawyer tells CNN
KTVZ·Sep 20, 2026
- What we know after a federal immigration officer shot, injured a man in Austin | NBTX News | New Braunfels Texas
nbtxnews.com·Sep 20, 2026
- Austin ICE shooting: New details released on man shot by ICE agents
fox7austin.com·Sep 21, 2026
- ICE officer shoots, injures man in Austin, officials say
gilmermirror.com·Sep 21, 2026
- Texas ICE shooting: Demonstrators pepper-sprayed at protests in Austin; scary visuals emerge
hindustantimes.com·Sep 21, 2026
- Austin Man Shot by ICE Facing Paralysis After Being Refused Medical Care | Common Dreams
commondreams.org·Sep 22, 2026
- Weeks of increased ICE presence preceded Austin shooting
Texas Tribune·Sep 22, 2026
- Man shot by ICE, detained in Texas with a bullet in his back is back in the hospital, attorney says
ms.now·Sep 21, 2026
local10.com·Sep 22, 2026
- DoorDash driver shot by ICE agents moved to detention center despite still having bullet 'lodged in his back'
dailymail.com·Sep 22, 2026
- Report: Immigration officer shoots, injures man in Austin
Texas Tribune·Sep 20, 2026
- Man shot by ICE speaks out, says bullet is still in him
goodmorningamerica.com·Sep 21, 2026
- Austin man was pursued by ICE agents before he was shot, police chief says
tpr.org·Sep 22, 2026
- Documented
- Congressman says Venezuelan man shot by ICE then taken into custody told he needs surgery
WTOP·Sep 23, 2026
- Migrant shot by ICE in Austin placed in solitary confinement
english.elpais.com·Sep 23, 2026
- Mother of man wounded by ICE in Texas describes video call moments after shooting
theprint.in·Sep 24, 2026
WHBL·Sep 24, 2026
- Documented
- The Austin ICE shooting has raised questions about medical standards for detainees
KUT·Sep 25, 2026
- Casar calls for surgery for Venezuelan man shot by ICE in North Austin
cbsaustin.com·Sep 25, 2026
- Austin man shot by ICE still in pain, bullet lodged in his back, ahead of San Antonio hearing
tpr.org·Sep 29, 2026
- Austin man shot by ICE agent faces assault, resisting charge
Texas Tribune·Sep 29, 2026
- Man shot by ICE in North Austin charged with assaulting federal officer
cbsaustin.com·Sep 29, 2026
- justice.gov
Sep 29, 2026
- Austin ICE shooting: Bond denied for man shot by ICE agent; he's now in federal criminal custody
fox7austin.com·Oct 1, 2026
- Man shot by ICE agent to appear in Austin federal court on assault charge
cbsaustin.com·Sep 30, 2026
- KXAN
- Judge keeps Venezuelan shot by ICE in custody for alleged assault
spectrumlocalnews.com·Oct 1, 2026
- courthousenews.com
- Man shot by ICE in Austin will stay in custody, but will not return to detention center
tpr.org·Oct 1, 2026
- Austin ICE shooting: Man shot by ICE agent undergoes surgery
fox7austin.com·Oct 3, 2026
- Man shot by ICE officer is detained in Texas with a bullet still in his back, attorney says – CONVEN.ORG | HOME
- elpasoinc.com
- Austin man shot by ICE remains jailed as judge weighs flight risk, disputed agent account
focalnews.org·Oct 6, 2026
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