HOUSTON – A man was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Houston on Tuesday morning, officials confirm.
According to ICE, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who was allegedly in the country illegally, was shot around 6:50 a.m. on Canal Street between S. Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive and Wayside Drive in the East End.
What they’re saying:
ICE says their officers were trying to conduct a vehicle stop “as part of a targeted enforcement operation to arrest an illegal alien.”
ICE says Araujo, the driver, attempted to evade arrest.
“From information we are 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 officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense,” ICE said in a statement.
Araujo was shot. ICE says, “emergency services were immediately contacted.”
Araujo was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
ICE says the FBI is leading the investigation.
“This is a developing situation, and we will update the public when more information is available,” ICE said in a statement.
Local reaction continues
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia released a statement on Tuesday saying, “I am aware of the fatal shooting that occurred during an ICE enforcement operation in my district in the Magnolia Park neighborhood this morning. ICE has released an initial account, but the facts must be independently and thoroughly investigated, including the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force. All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed as part of a full and impartial investigation. The victim’s family, my constituents, and the entire community deserve a complete and transparent accounting of what happened.”
Houston Councilwoman Alejandra Salinas also released a statement on Tuesday saying, “The fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent during an operation in Houston’s East End this morning is deeply concerning. The use of deadly force demands full scrutiny and transparency. I am calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the prompt release of all available video and investigative findings. The public deserves a timely account of what happened, clear answers, and accountability. My office has reached out to the appropriate City departments to determine what additional information is available and whether any City personnel or resources were involved in the incident.”
The Source: The information in this article comes from a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement spokesperson.
