HOUSTON \u2013 The Texas Rangers say they have not been asked to investigate the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a federal ICE agent and are not involved in the case.<\/p>\n
The letter came after a group of Houston-area state lawmakers wrote to the Texas Department of Public Safety urging the agency to open a parallel investigation into the shooting, which killed Salgado Araujo in the Magnolia Park neighborhood while he was on his way to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cDPS has not received a request from any federal agency or official to investigate the officer-involved shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and is not participating in that investigation at this time,\u201d the agency said in its written response to lawmakers.<\/p>\n
What happened on Canal Street<\/p>\n
The shooting happened around 6:50 a.m. on July 7 in the 6800 block of Canal Street, according to the Department of Homeland Security, while ICE agents were conducting what the agency calls a targeted enforcement operation. Salgado Araujo, identified by DHS as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was not the intended target of that operation, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia.<\/p>\n
In a statement, DHS said the encounter began after agents received a tip from law enforcement partners and conducted surveillance at a target address.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter receiving a credible tip from our law enforcement partners, our officers conducted surveillance on a target\u2019s address. Weeks prior to the incident, they noted two white vans at the property. On July 7, officers were almost at the target\u2019s address when they observed a white van with an individual who resembled the target. Officers then initiated the vehicle stop,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n
DHS has said the ICE agent acted in self-defense after they say Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle, ignored repeated commands and \u201cweaponized\u201d his work van by trying to run over an agent.<\/p>\n
Witnesses dispute federal account<\/p>\n
Three other men were inside the van with Salgado Araujo at the time of the shooting. Through their attorney, the men say ICE vehicles struck Salgado Araujo\u2019s work van first and that agents were never in danger of being run over. They alleged an agent approached from the passenger side, yelled \u201cStop!\u201d and then opened fire, striking Salgado Araujo in the abdomen.<\/p>\n
Garcia said she has spoken with two of the three men and that their accounts contradict the version of events provided by federal authorities.<\/p>\n
LULAC\u2019s CEO Juan Proa\u00f1o went further, calling the ICE stop an act of racial profiling.<\/p>\n
\u201c100% profiling. There\u2019s no question about it,\u201d Proa\u00f1o said. \u201cThey saw two brown people, basically, driving this vehicle. They were casing a 97% Latino community in Magnolia Park.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proa\u00f1o also said keeping the three detained men in the United States is critical, as they could serve as key witnesses in establishing what happened during the encounter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey live in mixed-status family households, and they do not want to bring additional potential legal jeopardy to their family members,\u201d Proa\u00f1o said.<\/p>\n
No body camera footage<\/p>\n
Investigators face a significant evidentiary challenge, there is no body camera footage of the shooting. DHS confirmed ICE agents were not equipped with body cameras and attributed the lack of the devices to what it described as \u201cback-to-back Democrat shutdowns,\u201d saying funding delays prevented officers from being equipped with the cameras.<\/p>\n
Without that footage, investigators are expected to rely on witness statements, physical evidence, and any available surveillance or cellphone video.<\/p>\n
Rangers cite no request from federal or local officials<\/p>\n
In the letter responding to the lawmakers, DPS said it has investigated officer-involved shootings involving federal law enforcement in the past, but only when asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cDPS works cooperatively with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and responds to requests for investigative or operational assistance as appropriate,\u201d the agency said. \u201cDPS has received no request from any local law enforcement agency or prosecutor to assist in the investigation of the Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n
In their letter to DPS Director Col. Freeman F. Martin, the Houston-area legislators argued the Texas Rangers hold statewide jurisdiction to investigate officer-involved shootings, including those involving federal officers, and have the authority to determine whether any state law was violated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Texas Rangers possess statewide jurisdiction to investigate officer-involved shootings, including those involving federal officers, and to determine whether any state law was violated,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cAs members of the legislature representing Harris County, we respectfully request that the Department of Public Safety open a parallel investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. This authority is inherent in Texas\u2019s status as a dual sovereign and under its police powers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter closed with a direct appeal: \u201cOur community and his family deserve answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
DA, family call for transparency<\/p>\n
The Harris County District Attorney\u2019s Office is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. District Attorney Sean Teare said investigators are still working to establish a complete timeline and are asking anyone with photos, videos or other evidence to come forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery avenue of investigation, from surveillance to eyewitnesses, to asking the public for help, not just at the scene of this shooting, we have to go backwards,\u201d Teare said. \u201cWe are doing everything we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Salgado Araujo\u2019s family and civil rights advocates have challenged parts of the federal government\u2019s account and continue to call for an independent and transparent investigation.<\/p>\n
The family is also inviting the public to pay their respects. Salgado Araujo\u2019s son, Ronaldo Salgado, announced a public viewing will be held Thursday, July 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Great Chapel at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.<\/p>\n
Start Here, Houston<\/p>\n
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