Troubling Anti-Ice Message Written at ICE Shooting Site

Teddy Williams at a protest holding a sign reading 'Make Immigrants American Again' — Photo: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock

At the Austin shooting site, a concrete pillar turned into a billboard of rage, capped by a threat to kill the sitting president.

Story Snapshot

Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in North Austin; protests followed.
Graffiti at the scene included “Kill Donald Trump” and anti-ICE slogans, documented by reporters on site.
Homeland Security Investigations, with Federal Bureau of Investigation help, leads the probe; details remain withheld.
Rep. James Talarico demanded an independent investigation and full release of footage.

The shooting that lit the fuse

Witness accounts, city statements, and major outlets agree on the core event. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during an enforcement action in North Austin. Reporters placed the scene near Highway 183 by Anderson Square. Crowds gathered within hours, chanting, filming, and calling for answers. The narrative from Immigration and Customs Enforcement framed Garces Perez as unlawfully present with a final removal order, while protesters focused on the gunfire in a busy public space.

Homeland Security Investigations said it is leading the investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisting. That means federal agencies now control the key evidence pipeline. The public still has not seen body camera or dash camera video. The department emphasized the target’s immigration status and the ongoing law enforcement operation. That framing sets the stakes, but it does not settle whether the use of force met policy or law. The investigation’s results have not been released.

The pillar that became a message board

While the investigation stayed quiet, the concrete spoke loudly. Reporters photographed graffiti on a pillar at the site. Messages included a crude anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement slur, “Kill all pedos,” and the most explosive line: “Kill Donald Trump.” One report noted that “Talarico” appeared with a heart and “love winz” nearby, suggesting mixed authors and clashing tones. The outlet also stressed the messages looked separate, not one unified screed by a single hand.

A second report logged workers from a local contractor painting over anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement markings the next day, confirming officials took the words seriously enough to erase them fast. That quick cleanup matters. It shows authorities understood that threats against the president and calls to kill anyone cross a hard line, far beyond protest. It also shows how fast physical evidence in these settings can vanish unless documented in time by journalists or police.

Accountability demands and political crossfire

Rep. James Talarico called for a full, independent investigation and the release of all footage. He argued that past incidents show the agency should not control the narrative alone. That demand aligns with a basic rule of trust: when a government agent fires a gun in public, show the tape. Calls for transparency do not prove misconduct; they simply recognize that withheld video breeds doubt, and doubt fuels street anger and rumor mills.

The post is a crowdsourced identification, not an official police announcement. A masked person in a gray cropped hoodie was filmed spray-painting “KILL DONALD TRUMP” and related slogans on a pillar at the North Austin site where ICE shot Venezuelan DoorDash driver Wilber Rafael…

— Chris 🇺🇸 (@Chris_1791) September 22, 2026

Conservative voices pointed to the “Kill Donald Trump” tag as evidence the protest climate turned into open threats. That criticism fits common sense. Threats are not speech; they are crimes and should be condemned and prosecuted. Still, merging the worst graffiti with every demonstrator muddies the issue. The public can reject political violence and still insist on a fair, independent review of the shooting itself. Those goals do not compete. They reinforce each other.

What the public needs now

Investigators should release the basics quickly: videos, radio logs, and a clear timeline. People accept hard truths when they see the full picture. If an agent faced an imminent threat, the footage will show it. If mistakes were made, sunlight will correct course. Immigration enforcement relies on public trust as much as badges and vests. The fastest way to restore calm in Austin is to pair zero tolerance for threats with zero patience for secrecy.