Lorenzo Salgado Araujo: Substance in van of man shot by ICE was not meth

ICE shooting Lorenzo Salgado Araujo immigration enforcement Houston methamphetamine testing

Federal prosecutor Aaron Reitz confirmed that laboratory testing on a white, crystal-like substance found in the van of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo showed the material was not methamphetamine. Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national, was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston on July 7.

Following the shooting, the FBI executed a search warrant after officers reported seeing bags that appeared to contain methamphetamine. However, the defense for Salgado Araujo’s family maintains the substance was a homemade electrolyte mixture used by his construction crew for hydration during the Texas summer heat. Witnesses riding in the vehicle also stated that ICE officers were never in immediate danger of being run over.

The incident follows a series of immigration enforcement operations that have resulted in at least 10 deaths. While the Department of Homeland Security previously claimed Salgado Araujo attempted to weaponize his vehicle against an officer, the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

Entities

Aaron Reitz · FBI · Houston · Lorenzo Salgado Araujo · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The ICE officers were targeting two Guatemalan men during the operation. www.kaaltv.com · wtop.com
[● 10 SOURCES] The U.S. Attorney has not identified the actual composition of the substance found in the van. www.kaaltv.com · wtop.com · feeds.texastribune.org · srnnews.com · diario.mx · +5 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Lab testing confirmed that the white crystal-like substance found in the van was not methamphetamine. www.kaaltv.com · wtop.com · feeds.texastribune.org · srnnews.com · diario.mx · +5 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Two passengers in the van stated that ICE officers were never in danger of being run over by the vehicle. www.kaaltv.com · wtop.com · srnnews.com · eldiariodechihuahua.mx · www.bangordailynews.com · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The Department of Homeland Security stated that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo attempted to run over an ICE officer with his vehicle. www.kaaltv.com · wtop.com · srnnews.com · eldiariodechihuahua.mx · www.bangordailynews.com · +2 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The substance in the bags was a homemade electrolyte mixture used by the construction crew for hydration. www.kaaltv.com · feeds.texastribune.org · wtop.com · lajornadasanluis.com.mx · srnnews.com · +6 more