HOUSTON – A 52-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday morning in east Houston by an ICE agent during what the agency called a “targeted enforcement operation.” They were trying to arrest Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the agency, at about 6:50 a.m., ICE agents attempted a traffic stop in the 6800 block of Canal Street.
Officials said Araujo attempted to flee the scene.
RELATED: ‘A hardworking Mexican man’: Son of Houston man shot and killed by ICE agent demands investigation
ICE said, “From information we’re receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement office resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense.”
Araujo was shot on the right side of his body and video obtained by KPRC 2 shows medics arriving at the scene less than 10 minutes after the shooting.
The Houston Fire Department said Araujo was taken to Ben Taub Hospital while CPR was in progress.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital, officials said.
Three other people were detained.
Federal investigators, including ICE personnel, remained at the scene for several hours.
DHS-OIG is leading an investigation into the shooting.
FBI Houston is leading an investigation into the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer
Victim’s son says his father didn’t deserve this
On Facebook, Ronaldo Salgado, Salgado Araujo’s son, released the following statement:
“My father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a hardworking Mexican man, was the man killed this morning by ICE in the East End.
My father has been in this country for nearly 35 years, working in construction to provide for myself, my two brothers, and my mother.
He was in the process of obtaining his work permit through the legal process. He was on his way to work, picking up his workers.
My father did not deserve this.
Please respect my family’s privacy during this time. There are a lot of videos and pictures out there of my father’s final moments that I do not wish to see."
Local leaders weigh in
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia: “The death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is saddening and troubling. He was a father, a family man, and someone known for working hard to provide for his family. My prayers are with his family, his loved ones, and the residents of Magnolia Park who are mourning this loss. His death occurred as he was apparently heading to work in the early morning hours, as he did regularly to provide for his family.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stated the shooting occurred during a targeted enforcement operation and claims the agent acted in self-defense. However, there are conflicting accounts of the moments leading up to this fatal encounter. When a life is taken on our city streets, the public deserves full transparency and the complete truth.
We cannot allow a lack of trust in federal investigations to cloud the pursuit of justice. I stand with the family of Mr. Araujo and local advocates in calling for a prompt, transparent and independent investigation led by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Our local authorities are grounded in this community and have the trust needed to ensure full accountability.
Our neighborhoods should not live in fear. As the facts of this case come to light, this family deserves answers and accountability. Justice must be served for Mr. Araujo."
Congressman Christian Menefee: “I have seen the reports that an ICE officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo Tuesday morning in Houston. I fully support an independent and transparent investigation into this shooting. All information gleaned from that investigation must be made public. ICE’s actions across the country have caused them to lose the faith and confidence of communities. We must ensure transparency in this investigation. My heart is with everyone impacted by this fatal shooting. I will continue to follow this investigation.”
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin: “I share our community’s deep concern: an interaction with ICE has left one person dead in Magnolia Park. I was just in the neighborhood meeting with residents last night. There must be a complete and transparent investigation, and my office stands ready to support our community and any local investigation into how this tragedy unfolded.”
Orlando Sanchez, Republican nominee for Harris County Judge: “It is far too early in the investigation for me to have a comment on this incident. Let’s wait and allow those tasked with investigating to do their jobs.”
Dr. Letitia Plummer, Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge: My heart is with the family grieving the loss of their loved one and with the residents of Magnolia Park who are searching for answers after a traumatic day in their community. Every loss of life deserves transparency, accountability, and respect. I join LULAC and community leaders in calling for a locally-led investigation that gives answers to the people of Harris County, not Washington. The working families of Magnolia Park deserve peace and quiet, not a battlefield. They work hard every day scrapping for every penny and they are owed the truth about what happened to one of their neighbors. We’ve seen this before, in Minneapolis. The federal government told us one thing, and the video told us another. Houston families deserve better than being asked to simply take ICE’s word for what happened on their own street."
Harris County Pct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones: “We have learned of reports regarding a deadly shooting involving ICE agents today in Houston. The Trump administration has broken public trust and constitutional rights with its extremist immigration enforcement. My prayers are with everyone affected by this death, especially the family members who lost a loved one. I support a thorough, transparent, and accurate review for the public to see exactly what happened. We are a nation of laws, and we must always demand justice.”
State Rep. Christina Morales: Today, a man was shot and another was nearly run over by a vehicle. We’ve seen incidents like this around the country, and now they have come to Houston. This is not what immigration enforcement should look like. We need answers, and Congress must act with meaningful immigration reform that reduces unlawful border crossings, addresses the backlog of asylum cases, and creates a pathway to legal status. This incident took place in the Magnolia Park neighborhood, just a handful of miles from both House District 145 and the FIFA World Cup Fan Fest. Immigration enforcement should never put our communities in danger. People are afraid, and we demand answers and accountability. I join Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia in calling for an independent investigation into this matter.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot on his way to work, was a husband, a father, and a longtime member of our community. When anyone in Harris County loses their life during an interaction with law enforcement, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office conducts an investigation parallel to the agency leading the investigation. Unfortunately at this time, federal authorities continue exclusively handling all aspects in this case. Let me be clear: Mr. Salgado Araujo’s family and our community deserve the truth. I urge anyone with video, photos, or eyewitness accounts regarding Tuesday’s shooting in the 6800 block of Canal Street to come forward.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: As the official responsible for the safety of 5 million Texans I want a full and complete investigation into the shooting of a construction worker. This is an agency with a recent history of inexplicable arrests, extrajudicial violence, and blatant attempts at coverups. ICE has long since lost public trust.
Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for governor: I have been closely monitoring reports about yesterday’s ICE shooting, and what I’ve seen is alarming. Let me be clear: the targeting of our communities is making us less safe, not more safe. Texans, and all Americans, deserve full transparency about this shooting, including the release of body camera and dashcam footage, and I join the calls for a transparent investigation that includes state Rangers to begin as quickly as possible.