Federal prosecutors charge Venezuelan man shot by ICE agent in Texas with assaulting an officer | Nation and World

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced an assault charge against a Venezuelan delivery driver who was shot in his car by a federal immigration agent in Texas, accusing the man of striking an officer with his side mirror while trying to drive away.

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was charged with one count of assaulting, resisting and impeding a federal officer, according to a criminal complaint. Garces Perez, whose attorney has said he still has a bullet lodged in his back from the Sept. 20 shooting, made an initial court appearance in an Austin federal court on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas.

kAmp ?:?6\A286 277:52G:E 7C@> 2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ 286?E 2>@F?ED E@ E96 8@G6C?>6?EVD 7F==6DE AF3=:4 244@F?E E@ 52E6 @7 E96 D9@@E:?8 😕 E96 %6I2D 42A:E2=[ H9:49 92D D6E @77 AC@E6DED 2?5 @FEC286 7C@> s6>@4C2ED @G6C E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\G:D2D\2DJ=F>\4C24<5@H?\:>>:8C2E:@?\f2ghdcfb`_d7a26`h7bh2_3`f`_hgg_eQm:>>:8C2E:@? 4C24<5@H?k^2m] %96 5@4F>6?E :?4=F56D A9@E@D E2<6? 7C@> 3@5J\H@C? 42>6C2D 3FE ?@ G:56@ H2D C6=62D65[ 2?5 E96 4@>A=2:?E 5:5 ?@E D2J H96E96C E96 286?E 2==6865=J DECF4< 3J E96 D:56 >:CC@C DFDE2:?65 2?J :?;FC:6D]k^Am

kAm%96 244FD2E:@?D 282:?DE v2C46D !6C6K 2C6 C6>:?:D46?E @7 AC6G:@FD 4=2:>D >256 3J :>>:8C2E:@? 286?ED 27E6C 9:89\AC@7:=6 D9@@E:?8D[ 😕 H9:49 @77:46CD 92G6 D:>:=2C=J 244FD65 5C:G6CD @7 H62A@?:K:?8 E96:C G69:4=6D] x? 2 92?57F= @7 42D6D[ E9@D6 2==682E:@?D 92G6 366? F?56C>:?65 @C H2=<65 324< 27E6C E96 C6=62D6 @7 3@5J\H@C? 42>6C2 7@@E286[ 2?5 92G6 C6?6H65 D4CFE:?J 23@FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:>>:8C2E:@?\D9@@E:?8\59D\>2:?6\e_h4_b5`3b`_hf3h76dedaa47fd_hh23Qmsw$VD C6=:2?46 @? G69:4F=2C DE@ADk^2m E@ 6I64FE6 2CC6DED]k^Am

kAmv2C46D !6C6K H2D 😕 E96 4FDE@5J @7 &]$] |2CD92=D 27E6C 36:?8 C6>@G65 7C@> 2 7656C2= 56E6?E:@? 46?E6C 😕 $@FE9 %6I2D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 7:=65 3J 7656C2= AC@D64FE@CD] $6A2C2E6=J[ v2C46D !6C6KVD 2EE@C?6JD 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2FDE:?\E6I2D\:46\D9@@E:?8\9@DA:E2=\H:=36C\A6C6K\aedffh2`45g`_53234e`f3aa32egdeg`Qm7:=65 2 =2HDF:Ek^2m D66<:?8 E@ DE@A 9:D C6>@G2= 7C@> E96 &]$]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E96 7656C2= 4@FCE 962C:?8 %F6D52J[ v2C46D !6C6K H2D 😕 “6IEC6>6=J 325 >65:42= 4@?5:E:@?[” 9:D =2HJ6C z2E6 {:?4@=?\v@=57:?49 D2:5[ 56D4C:3:?8 9:> 2D =:89E\962565[ ?2FD62E65 2?5 4@?7FD65 23@FE H92E H2D 92AA6?:?8] u@C E96 ?:?6 52JD D:?46 96 92D 366? :?42C46C2E65[ {:?4@=?\v@=57:?49 D2:5[ v2C46D !6C6K 92D ?@E DE@AA65 A=625:?8 7@C DFC86CJ E@ C6>@G6 E96 3F==6E[ H9:49 😀 AC6G6?E:?8 9:> 7C@> >@G:?8 9:D 2C> H:E9@FE A2:?] sw$ 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ BF6DE:@?D @? %F6D52J 27E6C?@@? 23@FE v2C46D !6C6KVD >65:42= EC62E>6?E]k^Am

kAmx7 4@?G:4E65[ v2C46D !6C6K 7246D FA E@ a_ J62CD 😕 AC:D@?]k^Am

k9amp77:52G:E D2JD 286?E H2D DECF4< 😕 E@CD@ 3J D:56 >:CC@Ck^9am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2? 277:52G:E D:8?65 3J 2 sw$ 286?E[ @77:46CD 7:CDE D2H v2C46D !6C6KVD 42C A2C<65 @FED:56 @7 2 C6DE2FC2?E H:E9 :ED 6>6C86?4J 7=2D96CD @?] %96J 564:565 E@ AF== 9:> @G6C 27E6C 4@?5F4E:?8 2 52E232D6 4964< E92E D9@H65 E96 42C H2D C68:DE6C65 E@ v2C46D !6C6K H9@ 925 2 7:?2= @C56C @7 C6>@G2= 7C@> E96 &]$]k^Am

kAm%96 286?ED D2:5 E92E E96J EFC?65 @? E96:C =:89ED E@ 6I64FE6 E96 DE@A[ 3FE 😕 E96 D2>6 7:=:?8[ v2C46D !6C6K E@=5 :?G6DE:82E@CD E92E 2? F?>2C<65 $&’ 7@==@H65 9:> 2?5 E96? 23CFAE=J 4FE 9:> @77 @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 C@25]k^Am

kAmv2C46D !6C6K[ H9@ H2D >2<:?8 2 s@@Cs2D9 56=:G6CJ[ AC@G:565 9:D 5C:G6CVD =:46?D6 E9C@F89 2 4C24< 😕 E96 H:?5@H[ 3FE :8?@C65 286?EDV C6BF6DED E@ DE6A @FE @7 E96 42C[ E96 4@>A=2:?E D2:5] v2C46D !6C6K E@=5 :?G6DE:82E@CD E92E 96 564=:?65 E@ 6I:E 3642FD6 96 925 2D<65 7@C @77:46CD E@ H2:E E@ 2AAC696?5 9:> F?E:= 9:D H:76 4@F=5 4@>6 C6EC:6G6 9:D 42C] r@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 56D4C:36 E96 :?E6C24E:@? 2D :?:E:2==J 4@?G6CD2E:@?2=[ H:E9 2 E@?6 E92E H2D “A=62D2?E 2?5 ?@E 288C6DD:G6]”k^Am

kAmp3@FE 2 >:?FE6 =2E6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE C64@C5D[ v2C46D !6C6K “23CFAE=J” 4=@D65 E96 H:?5@H 2?5 5C@G6 @77] ~?6 @7 E96 @77:46CD[ H9@ 😀 C676CC65 E@ @?=J 3J 9:D :?:E:2=D[ H2D DECF4< 😕 9:D E@CD@ H:E9 E96 5C:G6C’D D:56 G:6H >:CC@C H96? v2C46D !6C6K EC:65 E@ 5C:G6 2H2J[ E96 5@4F>6?ED D2J]k^Am

k9am~77:46C H9@ 7:C65 H2D?VE H62C:?8 3@5J 42>6C2k^9am

kAm%96 F??2>65 @77:46C H9@ D9@E v2C46D !6C6K H2D?’E H62C:?8 2 3@5J 42>6C2] %96 @E96C @77:46C :?G@=G65 😕 E96 492D6 H2D H62C:?8 2 42>6C2[ 3FE @?=J 42F89E FA E@ E96 492D6 27E6C v2C46D !6C6K 925 366? D9@E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E]k^Am

kAmxrt 92D AC6G:@FD=J D2:5 :ED 7:6=5 @77:46CD ?2E:@?H:56 H:== 92G6 3@5J\H@C? 42>6C2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:46\3@5J\42>6C2D\@77:46CD\D9@@E:?8D\523`3ahc4g54c`a5h67gddf4436375dfQm3J E96 6?5 @7 $6AE6>36Ck^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 277:52G:E :?4=F565 D4C66?D9@ED 7C@> AC6G:@FD=J F?C6=62D65 3@5J\H@C? 42>6C2 7@@E286 @7 E96 @77:46C’D :?:E:2= :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 xrt 286?ED] %96 7:CDE @7 E9C66 A9@E@D 2AA62CD E@ D9@H E96 @77:46C DE2?5:?8 😕 7C@?E @7 v2C46D !6C6K’D 5C:G6C’D 5@@C >:CC@Cj E96 D64@?5 D9@HD E96 @77:46C C6DE:?8 9:D 92?5D @? E96 9@@5 2?5 D:56 @7 v2C46D !6C6K’D 42C[ H:E9 E96 >:CC@C 4=@D6 E@ @C E@F49:?8 E96 @77:46C’D 235@>6?j 2?5 E96 E9:C5 2AA62CD E@ D9@H E96 42C AF==:?8 2H2J]k^Am

kAm{:?4@=?\v@=57:?49 42==65 @? sw$ E@ C6=62D6 E96 7F== 3@5J\H@C? 42>6C2 7@@E286[ C2E96C E92? D4C66?D9@ED E92E D96 D2:5 4@F=5 36 >:D=625:?8]k^Am

kAm“%9:D 😀 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 E96 8@G6C?>6?E A=2J:?8 82>6D H:E9 >J 4=:6?E’D =:76 2?5 D276EJ[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 pFDE:? !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E =2DE H66< C6=62D65 G:56@ 7C@> :ED @77:46CD] qFE E92E 7@@E286 5:5 ?@E D9@H E96 D9@@E:?8 @C E96 >@>6?E E92E v2C46D !6C6K 2==6865=J EC:65 5C:G:?8 2H2J]k^Am

k9amr@?7=:4E:?8 244@F?ED @7 =625\FA E@ D9@@E:?8k^9am

kAm%96 277:52G:E :?4=F56D v2C46D !6C6K AC@G:5:?8 9:D 244@F?E E@ 7656C2= :?G6DE:82E@CD[ H9:49 A2:?ED 2 4@?EC2DE:?8 A:4EFC6 @7 E96 =625\FA E@ E96 D9@@E:?8 E92? H92E 7656C2= AC@D64FE@CD 56D4C:365]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E[ v2C46D !6C6K D2:5 E92E 2 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E $&’ DECF4< 9:D 42C 27E6C 2 3C:67 492D6 2?5 42FD65 :E E@ DA:? 367@C6 2? 286?E @A6?65 7:C6[ D9@@E:?8 9:> 😕 E96 324<] qJ 4@?EC2DE[ &]$] pEE@C?6J yFDE:? #] $:>>@?D D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E E92E v2C46D !6C6K EC:65 E@ DEC:<6 2? @77:46C H:E9 9:D 42C[ “42FD:?8 E96 @77:46C E@ 7:C6 9:D A:DE@=]Qk^Am

kAmv2C46D !6C6K 6?E6C65 E96 &]$] 😕 a_ac FD:?8 rq! ~?6[ 2 AC@8C2> 368F? F?56C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? E92E 2==@H65 >:8C2?ED E@ >2<6 2AA@:?E>6?ED H:E9 &]$] 2FE9@C:E:6D E@ 36 4@?D:56C65 7@C 2DJ=F>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\:>>:8C2E:@?\43A\@?6\3@C56C\2AA\edagdc3d7a2c6e445e66a444fah433ddQm!C6D:56?E %CF>A 6?565 E96 AC@8C2>k^2m @? 9:D 7:CDE 52J 😕 @77:46]k^Am

kAmv2C46D !6C6K H2D 2? 2DJ=F> D66<6C 2?5 925 2 G2=:5 H@C< A6C>:E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D =2HJ6C] $96 D2:5 2 ;F586 :DDF65 2 56A@CE2E:@? @C56C 27E6C v2C46D !6C6K >:DD65 2? :>>:8C2E:@? 4@FCE 962C:?8 3642FD6 E96 ?@E:46 H2D D6?E E@ 2 7@C>6C 255C6DD]k^Am

k9am~E96CD 92G6 72465 492C86D 7@==@H:?8 xrt D9@@E:?8Dk^9am

kAm%96 D9@@E:?8 @44FCC65 2>:5 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3@C56C\:>>:8C2E:@?\4FDE@>D\6?7@C46>6?E\52E2\DE2E:DE:4D\7_f7de2bc352aad6d272bdefg`24`fc_QmDFC86 😕 xrt 6?7@C46>6?E 24C@DD E96 &]$]k^2m 5FC:?8 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D D64@?5 E6C>] xrt C6A@CE65 >@C6 E92? d_[___ >@?E9=J 2CC6DED 😕 yF=J 2?5 pF8FDE — 2 7:CDE 7@C E96 286?4J]k^Am

kAmx>>:8C2E:@? @77:46CD 92G6 4@>6 F?56C :?E6?D6 D4CFE:?J 7@C D9@@E:?8D E92E 92G6 @44FCC65 D:?46 %CF>A E@@< @77:46 😕 y2?F2CJ a_ad — 2E =62DE `_ @7 H9:49 92G6 366? 72E2=] ~? 2 76H @442D:@?D[ 7656C2= =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 92D 492C865 E96 A6CD@? D9@E 3J :>>:8C2E:@? @77:46CD H:E9 2DD2F=E]k^Am

kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:>>:8C2E:@?\49:428@\D9@@E:?8\4C24<5@H?\3@C56C\7_d4cce4bf37_45f6f6a25`5472`_c3`QmH@>2? D9@E D6G6C2= E:>6Dk^2m 3J q@C56C !2EC@= @77:46CD 😕 r9:428@ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:46\:>>:8C2E:@?\>:??6D@E2\d2cah766g`76gd4_h42dh62hbee4_`h5Qm2 >2? D9@E 😕 E96 =68 3J 2? xrt 286?Ek^2m 😕 |:??62A@=:D H6C6 3@E9 244FD65 @7 2DD2F=E:?8 @77:46CD[ 3FE 😕 3@E9 42D6D E96 492C86D H6C6 5C@AA65] %96 xrt @77:46C 😕 |:??62A@=:D 92D D:?46 366? 492C865 H:E9 =J:?8 23@FE 86EE:?8 2DD2F=E65 367@C6 D9@@E:?8 E96 >2? 😕 E96 =68]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm#:55=6 C6A@CE65 7C@> {@D p?86=6D]k^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.