HOUSTON (AP) – The immigration officer involved in the shooting death of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston was not in any immediate danger, according to statements made in federal court this week. Notably, there were two passengers present in the van at the time of the incident.
Initial reports from the Department of Homeland Security following the July 7 shooting indicated that Salgado Araujo “used a deadly weapon on a vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer,” prompting the officer to fire in self-defense. However, testimonies from two men who were riding with Salgado Araujo suggested otherwise. They stated that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were positioned alongside the van, contradicting the government’s narrative. One of the passengers characterized the official account as “a lie.”
Loss of life in front of construction workers
Salgado Araujo, who had lived in the United States without legal status for 35 years and worked as a home builder, was tragically killed in front of construction workers, including his brother. His family has maintained that he had no prior criminal history. Since the onset of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiatives, at least one in ten incidents during immigration operations have drawn widespread protests in Houston, calling for an independent and transparent investigation. Compounding the outrage, the officers involved were not wearing body cameras, and no photographs or videos of the shooting have been released.
The three men who were with Salgado Araujo that morning were taken into custody and are currently being held in an immigration detention facility. They have each filed a writ of habeas corpus, asserting that their confinement is unconstitutional and requesting the court to order their release. Jose Trinidad Rojas Priego and Daniel Tirado Pantoja submitted a detailed account of the shooting incident with their petition, as first reported by the Texas Tribune. Both men have lived in the U.S. for decades and claim they have no criminal records. Victor Salgado, the victim’s brother, has also sought a release order from the judge, but details of his statement remain sealed at his lawyer’s request to protect his privacy.
Passengers recount startling moments
Tirado Pantoja described how a vehicle began aggressively pursuing their van, nearly colliding with it. Startled, they veered onto the curb in an attempt to escape. Rojas Priego recounted that ICE vehicles were in pursuit and that Salgado Araujo believed they had evaded the agents until they were suddenly cornered. The urgency of the situation escalated when an ICE vehicle reportedly collided with the van from behind.
The Department of Homeland Security contends that Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an ICE vehicle, citing that he ignored commands and posed a threat, leading to the officer’s decision to shoot in self-defense. Rojas Priego denounced this narrative as false, asserting that no agents were positioned in front or behind them, only alongside the vehicle. Tirado Pantoja corroborated this statement, indicating that Salgado Araujo had parked the van in a nearby lot when the shooting commenced.
Salgado Araujo confronted and treated harshly
After being shot, Salgado Araujo was reportedly pulled from his vehicle, handcuffed, and thrown to the ground. Rojas Priego noted that Salgado Araujo, at one point, uttered, “Hey, I’m Matalon,” a phrase suggesting he understood the severity of his injuries. Both passengers described how the same officer who discharged his firearm aggressively restrained them, handcuffing and chaining them as they were thrown to the ground.
Aaron Reitz, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, announced his commitment to a comprehensive investigation involving his office, the FBI, DHS, and state and local law enforcement. He emphasized the pursuit of truth in the case.
DHS confirmed that the Office of Inspector General is also investigating, while the FBI’s Houston office leads inquiries into potential assaults against federal law enforcement officers. In recent developments, a judge barred the government from deporting Rojas Priego or removing him from the district without judicial consent. Another judge mandated advance notice to the court if the federal government intends to transfer or deport Tirado Pantoja.
Reid Gonzalez Olivieri, an attorney representing both men, stated in a petition that the conditions of their detention are particularly severe, given the violent nature of their encounter. The petition highlights that they survived an “aggravated assault with a deadly weapon” and identifies them as key witnesses to the fatal incident.
Associated Press writer Valerie Gonzalez contributed to this report.
