ICE shooting in Austin sparks calls for outside probe
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot a man during an enforcement operation in north Austin on Sunday afternoon after a traffic stop, according to local officials. The man was hit once in the torso and was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. Austin police said city officers were not involved in the operation or the shooting, and local leaders pressed for an investigation with independent local participation. Anti-ICE protesters gathered quickly at the scene as questions remained over why the stop was made and what led the federal agent to open fire.
Key Points
- The shooting happened on Sunday afternoon on Austin’s north side during an ICE operation that followed a traffic stop, local authorities said.
- Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said city police neither joined the federal operation nor fired any shots, though a special investigations unit attended the scene.
- The wounded man was shot once in the torso and hospitalised in serious but stable condition, while his nationality was not immediately confirmed by police.
- SingTao, citing the man’s lawyer, identified him as 29-year-old Venezuelan Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who allegedly called his wife after the shooting
- Mayor Kirk Watson and the Travis County district attorney called for local investigators to join the case and urged federal authorities to provide evidence.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers following US immigration enforcement, the case underscores how quickly a federal operation can become a local political and public-order issue when basic facts remain unclear. The dispute over who should investigate also points to wider concerns about accountability when federal agents use force in city neighbourhoods.