Key facts
- Witnesses dispute the Trump administration's claim that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo 'weaponized' his vehicle against ICE officials before being shot and killed.
- The men in the van with Salgado stated no ICE official was in front of the vehicle when shots were fired.
- ICE officers involved in the operation were not equipped with body cameras or dashcams.
- The Harris county district attorney's office and the FBI are investigating the incident.
- The three surviving men from the van are reportedly being pressured to sign deportation orders.
Witnesses to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Houston, Texas, are challenging the agency's account of the incident. The three men who were present in the van with Salgado when he was killed have stated that he did not 'weaponize' his vehicle against federal agents and that no ICE official was positioned in front of the van when shots were fired. These claims contradict the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) assertion that Salgado attempted to run over an officer, prompting a self-defense shooting.
According to their attorney, Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, the men, who were arrested during the operation, are also reportedly being pressured to sign deportation orders. Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia noted that the ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras and their vehicles lacked dashcams, making independent verification of events difficult. The Harris county district attorney, Sean Teare, has initiated an investigation, though his office was reportedly not invited to the scene. The FBI is also investigating potential assault on ICE officials.
Salgado had resided in the U.S. for nearly 35 years and had no criminal history. His family and lawmakers are demanding an independent investigation, citing previous instances where DHS provided inaccurate or contradictory information. The DHS maintains that Salgado's actions necessitated the officer discharging his weapon in self-defense. Bystander video shows Salgado on the ground after the shooting, bleeding and yelling.