HOUSTON — Just a week has passed since the tragic shooting of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Houston. The incident has prompted a large gathering of residents at Houston City Hall, all calling for an independent investigation and increased accountability from their local leaders.
In a significant move Tuesday evening, Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. reached out to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Freeman Martin through a letter. Diaz requested the Texas Rangers to lead a separate investigation into the shooting, expressing that both he and Mayor John Whitmire believe that such involvement would ensure the investigation remains impartial and transparent.
Previously, community members, activists, and supporters had strongly urged city authorities to persist with a local inquiry.
One concerned speaker voiced frustration at a City Council meeting, stating, “It’s deeply disturbing that the city of Houston has not taken a stronger stand against ICE.”
Another impassioned plea implored, “I’m asking you to resist any pressure that deters you from continuing this local investigation until every member of our community feels safe.”
Around 100 people signed up to speak during the public session, with many urging elected officials to stand up for Houston residents.
“We need to stand for Houston. This cannot be right,” one speaker said.
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“Do something. It’s your job to protect all of us. ICE out of Houston and justice for Lorenzo,” another added.
The meeting came as Houston Mayor John Whitmire said local law enforcement officials, including the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, met with the FBI, which is leading the investigation into the shooting.
“The city is doing everything possible to participate and assist as much as we can in the investigation,” Whitmire said.
After the meeting, the FBI said it will “continue to provide relevant case updates to our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners.” An insider told ABC Houston affiliate KTRK that the meeting was “amicable.”
Many speakers also called for criminal accountability and the public identification of the agents involved.
“We demand that the agent or agents be identified immediately. They acted illegally and murdered an innocent man simply for being brown,” one speaker said.
In addition to Salgado’s death in Houston, another man was shot and killed by ICE agents in Maine on Monday.
The incidents have prompted questions about ICE training for vehicle stops.
“I don’t know these agents personally, but just this afternoon I contacted ICE and had them send me the training curriculum for vehicle stops,” border czar Tom Homan told reporters. “It’s quite extensive. I don’t know the specifics of these agents, but it’s under investigation.”
Outside City Hall, demonstrators continued chanting and calling for justice as the council meeting continued inside.
“I hope that I see every one of you speaking loudly to our federal officials to demand justice for Lorenzo and every Houstonian,” one speaker told city leaders.
A public viewing for Salgado, a father of three, is scheduled for Thursday evening.
The FBI has a request for a search warrant to look through the van that was part of the shooting, records show.
This comes as authorities said they saw “white crystal-like substance packaged in small plastic bags,” from outside of the van, according to documents.
The search warrant, which was filed Tuesday, states that “searches of the target vehicle will yield evidence of the crimes committed and violations of drug offenses.”
As the investigation continues into the deadly shooting, in the warrant the FBI said that the Department of Homeland Security told them ICE agents were trying to conduct a traffic stop on the “target vehicle,” but it refused to stop and drove over a median in an attempt to flee.
“Pursuant to ICE policy, the officers did not pursue the vehicle. The officers relocated the vehicle in the 6800 block of Canal Street,” the warrant states.
However, videos obtained by KTRK showed two unmarked vehicles following the van.
Following the deadly shooting, an FBI special agent says he “inspected the vehicle and observed in plain view several plastic bags with what appeared to be white crystal-like substances packaged in small plastic bags,” according to the warrant.
The FBI states that the bags were found in the middle of the dash, between the driver and passenger side of the vehicle, as well as on the passenger floorboard, and that “the packaging and appearance of the controlled substance in the target vehicle is consistent with methamphetamine.”
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