HOUSTON \u2013 U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz on Thursday issued his first public statement about the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a federal immigration agent in Houston\u2019s Magnolia Park neighborhood, saying multiple agencies continue to investigate the incident and urging the public to allow the investigation to run its course.<\/p>\n
Reitz, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, released a video statement outlining what he described as preliminary information gathered by federal investigators. He emphasized that authorities have not reached any final conclusions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to assure the public that the appropriate law enforcement agencies are looking into this matter,\u201d Reitz said. \u201cThat includes my office, the FBI, DHS, and other state and local partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reitz describes investigators\u2019 preliminary findings<\/p>\n
According to Reitz, federal officers were investigating two Guatemalan men believed to be driving a white van on the morning of July 7. He said the men had previously evaded arrest and were potentially subject to deportation.<\/p>\n
Reitz said agents initially attempted to stop what they believed was the suspects\u2019 van after spotting a similar vehicle in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe officers\u2019 two vehicles, each with two officers inside, turned on their police lights and attempted to pull over the van,\u201d Reitz said.<\/p>\n
According to his statement, the van made a rapid U-turn, crossed a median and fled. Reitz said agents chose not to pursue the vehicle at that time.<\/p>\n
Later that morning, agents encountered the van again and surrounded it, Reitz said.<\/p>\n
He said preliminary information indicates officers instructed the men to put the van in park, but the driver instead shifted into reverse and then forward while an officer was either partially inside the van or immediately beside it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring this confrontation between federal agents and a group of illegal aliens attempting to flee, one of the officers fired a single shot,\u201d Reitz said. \u201cThe round struck Lorenzo Salgado.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reitz said the other officers immediately began providing first aid before Salgado was transported to a hospital, where he later died.<\/p>\n
Search warrant executed on van<\/p>\n
Reitz also referenced a development first reported this week involving the vehicle.<\/p>\n
He said officers observed \u201cseveral small bags of a white, crystal-like substance\u201d inside the van after the shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result, just yesterday the FBI executed a search warrant on the van in connection with possible narcotics trafficking and drug offenses,\u201d Reitz said.<\/p>\n
Court records previously obtained by Click2Houston showed the FBI sought the search warrant after agents reported seeing the suspected substance in plain view inside the work van.<\/p>\n
The warrant affidavit stated investigators planned to test the substance and search the vehicle for additional evidence related to possible drug offenses.<\/p>\n
Case has drawn widespread attention<\/p>\n
The shooting has sparked protests and calls for transparency from community members, elected officials and Salgado\u2019s family.<\/p>\n