The Texas Department of Public Safety announced that the Texas Rangers have agreed to investigate the July 7 fatal shooting of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a U.
S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Houston.
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Salgado Araujo was killed during a morning pursuit by federal agents driving unmarked vehicles while he was transporting his work crew.
Following the incident, the FBI filed a search warrant on July 14 after an agent reported finding suspected drugs inside the victim's van.
Family attorney Ruby Powers challenged the federal drug claims, stating that the recovered white crystal-like substance was actually a homemade rehydration mixture.
Powers requested immediate laboratory testing to clear the deceased man's name and called for the release of his brother, Victor, from immigration custody.
"After consulting with my client and his family, our understanding is that this was granulated salt, which is paired with lemon and water as a homemade electrolyte mix used by outdoor workers in extreme Texas heat," said Powers.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office also expressed skepticism regarding the initial drug allegations made by federal investigators.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare publicly doubted the FBI's preliminary assessment of the vehicle's contents based on passenger background checks.
"Based on what we've learned about the passengers, it's inconsistent that drugs were in the van," said Teare.
The Texas Rangers will conduct their inquiry alongside the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
State authorities noted that the Rangers did not have access to the initial scene but are participating following an official agency request.
