Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot in his car by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer

Key Points:

• Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan delivery driver, was charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer after being shot by a federal immigration agent in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 20.
• The shooting occurred after agents attempted to stop Garces Perez for a vehicle registered to him and a final order of removal from the U.S.; prosecutors say he struck an officer with his side mirror while trying to drive away.
• The officer who fired was not wearing a body camera, and while bodycam photos were released, no video of the shooting itself was made public, leading to scrutiny over the incident and ICE's use of vehicular stops.
• Garces Perez claims a law enforcement SUV hit his car first, causing it to spin before he was shot, contrasting with federal prosecutors' account that he tried to hit an officer, prompting the shooting.
• The case highlights ongoing controversies around ICE enforcement and shootings, with previous similar incidents involving charges against those shot often resulting in dropped charges or revelations about officer misconduct.