DHS Says HSI and FBI Are Leading Investigation Into ICE Officer-Involved Shooting in North Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — September 21, 2026

An ICE officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in North Austin during a law enforcement operation, according to local and federal officials. The shooting remains under investigation.

Austin-Travis County EMS was notified of the shooting at approximately 12:56 p.m. and arrived in under five minutes, EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said at a Sunday briefing. The man was transported within nine minutes to a local trauma center in serious but stable condition after being shot once in the torso.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said preliminary information indicated there was a brief foot pursuit before the shooting, but cautioned that she had not yet been briefed by federal authorities. Davis confirmed Austin police officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting. The department's special investigation unit responded to the scene.

When NCN contacted the Austin Police Department's Public Information Office, APD redirected the inquiry to ICE Media. APD later shared a video statement from Chief Davis and said the department had no further information to share at this time.

The Department of Homeland Security told NCN that Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. In its statement, DHS described the man as a Venezuelan national who, according to DHS, illegally entered the country under the Biden administration and had a final order of removal. DHS said the man's condition is stable and that he is in federal custody pending removal.

The man was identified by his attorneys as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, a Venezuelan national. His attorneys said he was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when the encounter occurred, and that he was released from the hospital into ICE custody with a bullet remaining lodged in his back.

The attorneys have disputed aspects of DHS's account of his immigration history. NCN has not independently confirmed either account, and the dispute remains unresolved without documentary evidence.

A dark blue Toyota Corolla was photographed at the scene under a highway overpass with damage to its passenger-side door and what appeared to be bullet holes, according to local media reports.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the information available to city officials was "extremely preliminary" and cautioned against rushing to conclusions based on social-media claims. Watson said he wants the Austin Police Department involved in the investigation to provide "clear, third-party eyes," adding that he does not believe it would be appropriate for ICE to investigate the incident on its own. He also said city officials do not know the whereabouts of the officer involved.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar called for a full independent investigation, the immediate release of body camera footage, and accountability for any officer who broke the law.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the scene Sunday afternoon near Research Boulevard and Anderson Square, according to local reports. Law enforcement used pepper balls to move protesters away from the active investigation area, and protesters later blocked portions of Research Boulevard.

The man's immigration attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, reportedly told The New York Times that she and the man's wife have been blocked from seeing him and do not know whether he remains hospitalized or has been moved into ICE custody. That claim has not been independently confirmed by an official source.

What remains unknown: the circumstances that led to the shooting, the identity and status of the officer involved, whether any charges or removal proceedings have been filed, and whether body camera footage exists or will be released.

— National Correspondent Network