HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A witness who was inside the van when a U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in east Houston this summer appeared before a grand jury on Wednesday.
Sources told ABC13 that grand jury proceedings are confidential by law. A Harris County grand jury is reviewing evidence to determine whether a crime was committed on July 7 on Canal Street.
ABC13’s cameras were rolling when one of the witnesses in the van at the time – Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego – walked into grand jury proceedings.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC13 that the grand jury is meeting for the shooting and proceedings take place Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Department of Homeland Security said Salgado Araujo – a Mexican citizen – used his van as a weapon when an agent shot him during a targeted enforcement operation.
The agency later confirmed that Salgado Araujo was not the intended target.
Video of exactly what happened on Canal Street on July 7 has yet to surface.
But the three witnesses are key – they were all detained by ICE and have since been released.
Legal battles are playing out to ensure people like Rojas Pliego can testify in the case.
Since the deadly day, Salgado Araujo’s sons, the community, and Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare have called for an independent investigation.
Teare says his office is conducting one, and the county is approving millions of dollars to help.
While grand jury proceedings are confidential by law, Teare has spoken out in the past about ensuring he does everything he can to get to the bottom of the deadly shooting.
Witness Rojas Pliego nor his attorney had any comments as they left the courthouse Wednesday.
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