Texas mayor calls for independent probe after ICE shooting

A man is in hospital after being shot in the torso during a brief foot pursuit involving a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in north Austin, Texas, local officials said. The shooting occurred shortly before 1pm local time.

The man remains in serious but stable condition. Officials have not named him or confirmed his age or nationality. Immigration lawyer Kate Lincoln Goldfinch, who represents his family, identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, and Venezuelan. The Associated Press reported that she did not know his current immigration status.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said city police were not involved in the operation or shooting. The department’s Special Investigations Unit was sent to the scene, and Davis asked the Texas Rangers to assist with the investigation.

Mayor Kirk Watson called for an independent inquiry involving the Austin Police Department, saying the circumstances should be examined as fully and independently as possible. The information released so far has been described by officials as very preliminary.

About 100 protesters gathered near the scene. The shooting comes amid what Watson described as a rapid increase in ICE operations in Austin. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security had not issued statements in the supplied material.