The bags found in a van driven by Lorenzo Salgado, the day he was shot and killed by ICE officers earlier this month, weren’t methamphetamine. According to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the contents of the bags weren’t drugs at all.
Following a drug test on the powdery substance discovered, the Harris County DA’s office tweeted on Friday that the results determined that the contents of the bag “tested negative for narcotics/illicit drugs.”
The DA’s office also stated it would not comment further on the test results as the investigation is ongoing. In a follow-up tweet, the DA’s office stated that it notified Salgado’s family because “we felt they had the right to know.”
Earlier this month, Harris County DA Sean Teare disputed the claim by the FBI that the “crystal-like substance” found were drugs.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia took to Twitter following the DA office’s announcement, stating that the “attempt to cast a shadow over Lorenzo Salgado’s name has failed.”
“We can now confirm that the substance found in Lorenzo Salgado’s van was not a narcotic or any other illicit substance,” she tweeted. “As his family has said all along, this was an electrolyte powder to stay hydrated working outside in the hot Texas summer.
“The attempt to cast a shadow over Lorenzo Salgado’s name has failed.”
Garcia, along with the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus held an oversight hearing related to the July 7 shooting on Canal Street. The group called for an independent investigation and full transparency and accountability regarding the shooting. Government officials argued Salgado attempted to run over officers with the van, an assessment widely disputed by those in the van with Salgado. ICE later said the 51-year-old was not the target of their operation on Houston’s east side.
“Our priority is restoring water to the entire block as quickly as possible while ensuring the memorial remains fully intact and respected,” the statement read.