HOUSTON – Statements from two passengers who were present during the tragic shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo have been released. The incident occurred on Canal Street in early July, resulting in Araujo’s death. At the time, three other individuals were in the vehicle alongside him and were subsequently detained by ICE agents at the scene.
Witnesses Jose Trinidad Rojas Pilego and Daniel Tirado Pantoja have provided accounts detailing the events of that day. Both men assert that ICE agents were not positioned in front or behind their vehicle during the confrontation.
Pilego recounts that they encountered ICE agents unexpectedly, and he was instructed by Araujo’s brother to turn around and drop them off. He claims that the agents pursued them, leading to a situation where they felt trapped. According to Pilego, despite their attempts to comply by stopping the van, the agents had already discharged their weapons, and shots continued to be fired even after they had halted.
Pilego emphasized, “There wasn’t a single officer behind or in front of us; they were only on the sides.”
Pantoja’s statement adds another layer to the narrative, alleging that the ICE agents collided with their vehicle from behind and subsequently struck the side where Araujo was seated. He recalls Araujo expressing distress by saying, “Ya me han matado,” which translates to “They’ve already killed me.” Pantoja also claimed that after Araujo was taken by the officers, one agent exchanged firearms with the agent who had fired at Araujo, indicating a troubling sequence of events.
At the time of the incident, Araujo’s family stated that he was picking up three workers, including Pilego and Pantoja, en route to a construction job. A federal prosecutor later clarified that the ICE officers were actually targeting two Guatemalan men believed to be subject to deportation, who were driving a van that resembled Araujo’s vehicle.
ICE agents contend that they attempted to stop Araujo’s work van when he allegedly rammed their vehicle, ignored verbal commands, and attempted to run over an officer. The agency maintains that the shooting was a matter of self-defense.
Legal representatives for the passengers have reported that their clients dispute the Department of Homeland Security’s version of events surrounding the shooting.
