Who are the wives and sons of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo? Family speaks out after fatal Houston ICE shooting; GoFundMe launched
The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican construction business owner, has joined calls for transparency after he was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Houston.
His wife and three sons have publicly questioned ICE’s version of events while local and federal investigations are ongoing.
The shooting occurred Tuesday morning near Houston’s Magnolia Park in what ICE said was a targeted immigration enforcement operation. According to the agency, Lorenzo ignored repeated commands and attempted to evade arrest by ramming a law enforcement vehicle. one ICE agent Then he shot Lorenzo in self-defense.
Lorenzo died from a penetrating gunshot wound to the torso, according to the Harris County Forensic Science Institute. His death was ruled a homicide.
His family strongly disputes that theory, saying he would have cooperated if he knew those pursuing him were federal officers.
Who is Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family?
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is survived by his wife and three sons. He spent more than three decades of his life in Houston after immigrating from Mexico, family members said.
His eldest son, Ronaldo Salgado, has become the face of the family. Ronaldo described his father to CNN as a devoted husband, hard-working businessman and mentor whose construction company employed dozens of workers.
“My father should not be in the headlines,” Ronaldo said, urging the public to remember him as a family man and not just an immigration case.
Salgado Araujo and his wife met as teenagers in Mexico, according to his family. The couple eventually settled in Texas. Together they raised three sons. CNN reports that Ronaldo became a teacher while his younger brother pursued a career in engineering.
As support grows, family seeks answers
Authorities have not released body-worn camera footage, surveillance video or other evidence detailing the encounter.
CNN reports that Ronaldo Salgado recognized his father’s voice from a social media video recorded after the shooting. Lorenzo can allegedly be heard in the video crying, “Help me! They shot me!” as he lay on the ground awaiting medical attention.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is investigating the shooting. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has also launched its own investigation but said key evidence remains under federal control.
Community organizations have stepped up pressure on authorities. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) demands transparency and launches a to fund me The event has raised nearly $300,000 for the family.
At a press conference on Thursday, LULAC CEO Juan Proaño claimed that Lorenzo’s wife was initially unable to claim her husband’s body because she lacked the required legal documents.
“They took all of Lorenzo’s personal identification before putting him in an ambulance and taking him to the hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, there was nothing that could identify him, so the hospital treated him as a John Doe,” he said.
The Mexican government also announced plans to take legal and civil measures to protect the rights of Mexican nationals in the United States, citing Lorenzo’s death and other recent immigration-related cases.
