HOUSTON — An attorney representing the family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on Friday called the federal account of the man’s fatal shooting by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “completely false,” saying three people who were in the vehicle with Salgado Araujo disputed the agency’s narrative.
Conflicting accounts
Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, the family’s lawyer, said he spoke with three men who were riding in the van with Salgado Araujo when the shooting occurred. According to Balderas-Ibarra, those individuals told him the van never rammed an ICE vehicle and that the agents’ lives were never in danger.
“After speaking with these three men that were in the vehicle with Lorenzo, I have no doubt that what these ICE agents are saying is completely false,” Balderas-Ibarra said in a video posted to Instagram.
Department of Homeland Security officials, speaking for ICE, have maintained the opposite account. In an earlier statement the department said Salgado Araujo "attempted to evade arrest," rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, failed to comply with verbal commands and "weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense."
Immediate aftermath
Salgado Araujo was shot in the abdomen and transported to a hospital where he later died, according to the lawyer’s account. Balderas-Ibarra said Salgado Araujo cried out, "Ya me mataron," which the attorney translated as “They killed me,” after he was struck.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Balderas-Ibarra’s assertion disputing the agency’s description of events.
What’s at stake
The discrepancies between the ICE statement and the accounts relayed by the family’s attorney could shape whether federal investigators or independent authorities conduct further review. Use-of-force incidents involving federal immigration officers have drawn intense public scrutiny in recent years, and conflicting eyewitness testimony typically triggers demands for independent reviews to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Attorney’s claim: Three passengers said the van never tried to ram ICE officers and that agents were not in danger.
- ICE/DHS claim: The driver rammed an ICE vehicle, refused commands and attempted to run over an officer, prompting a defensive shooting.
- Result: Salgado Araujo was shot in the abdomen, taken to a hospital and later died.
Known facts and open questions
At this stage, public information is limited to statements from the family’s attorney and the department. Key details—such as body-worn camera footage, forensic vehicle examinations, the sequence of commands and responses, and interviews with ICE personnel—have not been released publicly in full. Balderas-Ibarra has demanded an independent investigation so the family can obtain answers and pursue justice, and the Department of Homeland Security has held to its version of the events.
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Number of passengers interviewed | Three (attorney) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot to the abdomen (attorney) |
| Agency statement | Driver "weaponized his vehicle" and rammed ICE vehicle (DHS) |
The discrepancy in accounts elevates the case beyond a local criminal matter; it raises federal oversight and civil-rights considerations. For Houston and other Texas communities with sizable immigrant populations, the incident underscores friction that can arise during federal immigration enforcement operations and the importance of clear, timely public disclosures when force is used.
Local residents and advocacy groups often press for independent probes in similar cases to ensure impartial reviews. At the same time, federal agencies emphasize the need to protect officer safety and may cite evolving investigative steps before releasing full operational details.
As investigators and attorneys weigh next steps, questions persist about what evidence agencies will disclose and whether an independent review will be launched. The family’s attorney has publicly demanded that independent investigators be allowed to examine the circumstances of the shooting.
— Alejandro Vega, Texas correspondent
