The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the man who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston last week, is inviting the public to pay their respects during a viewing this week.
In a social media post, Salgado Araujo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, announced that a public viewing will be held Thursday, July 16, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Great Chapel at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.
The family said they wanted to give members of the community an opportunity to honor Salgado Araujo in person.
Salgado Araujo was shot and killed on July 7th in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood while on his way to work.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said the ICE agent acted in self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly attempted to ram an ICE vehicle, ignored repeated commands and “weaponized” his work van by trying to run over an agent.
However, the three other men who were inside the van have disputed that account. According to statements provided through their attorney, the men say ICE vehicles struck Salgado Araujo’s work van and that agents were never in danger of being run over. They allege an agent approached from the passenger side, yelled “Stop!” and then opened fire, striking Salgado Araujo in the abdomen.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting.
District Attorney Sean Teare said investigators are still working to establish a complete timeline and are asking anyone with photos, videos or other evidence to come forward.
“Every avenue of investigation, from surveillance to eyewitnesses, to asking the public for help, not just at the scene of this shooting, we have to go backwards,” Teare said. “We are doing everything we can.”
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said she has spoken with the three men who were in the van and said their accounts contradict the version of events provided by federal authorities.
As of Monday, no publicly available video has surfaced showing the shooting. Homeland Security has said the agents involved were not wearing body cameras. Garcia has also said ICE officials told her the agency’s vehicles were not equipped with dash cameras during the incident.