A recent shooting in Houston, Texas, has raised questions about the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. On July 7, 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by an ICE officer. The Department of Homeland Security initially stated that Salgado Araujo had attempted to run over the officer with his vehicle, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense.
Passenger Accounts
However, two passengers in the van, Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego and Daniel Tirado Pantoja, have come forward with a different account of the events. They claim that the ICE officers were never in front of or behind the van, but rather to the sides, and that Salgado Araujo had put the vehicle in park when the officers began shooting.
Rojas Pliego and Tirado Pantoja have filed habeas corpus petitions, alleging that their detention is unconstitutional. They have also applied for visas designed to protect immigrants who are victims of crimes and assist law enforcement.
Investigation
The incident is currently under investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and state and local law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas has promised a full investigation and to seek the truth.
The shooting has sparked widespread protests in Houston and calls for an independent and transparent investigation. The officers involved in the shooting were not wearing body cameras, and no photos or videos of the incident have surfaced.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
