HOUSTON, Texas — Federal testing found no methamphetamine in the van of a Houston homebuilder fatally shot by immigration officers last month, undermining a suspicion the government publicly raised after the controversial shooting.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz confirmed Thursday that FBI testing of a “white crystal-like substance” recovered from Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s work van came back negative for methamphetamine. An attorney for his family says the material was a homemade electrolyte mixture used by Salgado Araujo and his construction crew to stay hydrated in the Texas heat.
Salgado Araujo, 52, was killed July 7 after ICE officers in unmarked vehicles pursued his van while he was driving workers to a construction site. Authorities later acknowledged agents had been seeking two Guatemalan men traveling in a similar vehicle, not Salgado Araujo. He had lived in the United States without legal status for 35 years, operated a homebuilding business and had no criminal record.
DHS initially said Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle” and attempted to run over an officer, prompting the officer to shoot in self-defense. Two passengers have disputed that account in court filings, saying officers remained alongside the van and were never in its path.
The FBI subsequently obtained a search warrant highlighting the suspected narcotics. ACLU of Texas attorney David Donatti accused officials of using the warrant to create a “false narrative” around the shooting.
Salgado Araujo’s family and Democratic lawmakers are seeking an independent investigation into his death.
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