Aaron Reitz, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, gave a preliminary statement detailing the federal government’s account of the fatal shooting of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Houston.
“I want to assure the public that the appropriate law enforcement agencies are looking into this matter. That includes my office, the FBI, DHS, and other state and local partners,” Reitz said.
According to Reitz, on Tuesday, July 7, federal agents were attempting to locate two Guatemalan men who had previously evaded arrest and were believed to be subject to deportation.
He said agents initially attempted to stop a white van matching the suspects’ vehicle, but the driver escaped by making a high-speed U-turn and crossing a median. The officials did not give pursuit at that time.
Later that morning, officials encountered the van again and gave commands for the van to park.
Reitz said the confrontation escalated after the illegal aliens ignored commands and then reversed the van while one officer was “partially inside the van or immediately next to it.” During the encounter, one federal agent fired a shot that hit Salgado Araujo. Other officers administered first aid, but Salgado Araujo later died at a hospital.
Agents also observed “a white crystal-like” substance inside the van, according to Reitz. The FBI later obtained a search warrant as part of a narcotics and drug-trafficking investigation.
Reitz stressed that the statement reflects only preliminary information and should not be viewed as a final determination.
Salgado Araujo’s family and the League of United Latin American Citizens have disputed the federal government’s account of the incident and have called for the release of body camera footage and other evidence.
The shooting remains under investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the Texas Rangers, whose involvement was just announced by Gov. Greg Abbott.
“We are doing everything we can to seek the truth and do the right thing. In the meantime, I encourage the public to give the FBI and DHS the opportunity to investigate. Let the justice system work. And pray for safer communities in which law, order, and justice prevail,” Reitz concluded.
