The Harris County District Attorney’s office announced on Thursday that the investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by immigration agents in Houston last month is projected to cost approximately $2.52 million over the next three years.
District Attorney Sean Teare emphasized the unpredictability of the timeline for the litigation and investigation, stating, “We are not entering this process with any preconceived notions regarding potential charges. However, it is imperative that this community and our nation receive a comprehensive and transparent examination of the evidence.”
During a press conference, Teare was accompanied by County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Lesley Briones, who later unanimously approved the allocation of funds for the investigation.
The allocated budget will be directed into a specific fund intended for the investigation’s needs, which includes hiring an additional prosecutor and investigator, covering overtime costs, and investing in technological upgrades.
Teare mentioned that progress is being made in the case, largely due to evidence and tips provided by local residents. However, he noted that some critical questions remain unanswered without cooperation from federal agencies in sharing their evidence. He expressed a willingness to pursue legal action if necessary to obtain the required information.
<p“We are committed to exploring every possible avenue to piece together the full narrative of what transpired. If that means filing a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., then we will proceed accordingly,” Teare stated.
The decision to investigate the shooting, which occurred on July 7, followed the refusal of federal agencies to disclose the identities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents involved in the incident, during which the 52-year-old construction worker sustained a fatal gunshot wound after agents, driving unmarked vehicles, stopped his van.
Aside from fragmented video footage from nearby businesses, there is no visual evidence from the perspective of the ICE agents, as they were not equipped with body cameras.
Commissioner Ellis remarked, “It has become increasingly challenging for many people to trust our federal justice system as they once did.”
A city METRO bus equipped with a video camera passed the scene during the shooting. Teare confirmed his office is aware of this video but refrained from disclosing its content in order to preserve the integrity of a potential jury pool.
An ICE representative stated that agents discharged their firearms because Salgado Araujo allegedly “weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer, prompting our officer to fire in self-defense.”
However, the three individuals who were in the van with Salgado Araujo—two of whom are currently detained at an immigration facility in Conroe—challenge this account. They assert that Salgado Araujo did not attempt to strike an agent with his vehicle, according to statements conveyed by their legal representatives.
On the morning of the shooting, ICE agents were reportedly not targeting Salgado Araujo but were instead searching for another immigrant, as indicated by U.S. Representative Sylvia R. Garcia, D-Houston, following discussions with the agency’s acting director. The identity of this individual has yet to be disclosed publicly by ICE.
Teare urged the federal government to release the two detained witnesses, asserting, “To uncover the absolute truth in this matter, it is essential that we interview all three eyewitnesses outside of government detention.”
Hidalgo expressed her desire for the ICE agents involved to come forward and provide clarity on the events, offering some degree of closure to the family and the city of Houston. “This issue will not simply fade away,” she stated.
