Houston ICE shooting: Family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, activists call for transparency

HOUSTON - Family, activists and lawmakers are calling for transparency following the deadly shooting of a man in Houston by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

The family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the League of Latin American Citizens and local lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday.

"I am calling for a full investigation into the events that transpired yesterday," said Ronaldo Salgado, Salgado Araujo’s son. "He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE.’"

Man killed by ICE in Houston

The backstory:

Salgado Araujo was shot and killed in Houston’s East End on Tuesday morning.

According to the agency, ICE was trying to stop Salgado Araujo's vehicle as part of a targeted enforcement operation. ICE says Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, did not have legal permission to be in the country.

During that stop, ICE says he rammed their vehicle, refused to follow verbal commands and tried to run over an officer.

The agency says the ICE officer shot Salgado Araujo in self-defense. Salgado Araujo was shot in the abdomen. He was taken to a local hospital with CPR in progress, but he did not survive his injuries.

The FBI is investigating.

Son speaks out on shooting

Ronaldo took to Facebook after the shooting and said his father was picking up workers on his way to his construction job on Tuesday morning.

He says his father has been in the U.S. for nearly 35 years and was in the process of obtaining his permit through the legal process. He was married and had three sons.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Ronaldo remembered his father as a "hardworking family man" who "wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people."

"After nearly 35 years of working to give us the American Dream, he made the choice to begin the process of attaining his American Dream through a work permit. We dotted every I, crossed every T, filled every document, attended every appointment. He was close to obtaining his legal status," Ronaldo says.

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia noted that Salgado Araujo had no criminal record.

Calls for transparency

Several lawmakers joined Ronaldo in calling for a transparent investigation.

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia said, "We need to know why Lorenzo was targeted. We need to know who authorized the operation. We need to know what threat agents believe they faced. Again, 35 years, Houston resident, no criminal record. What threat were they fearing? We need to know whether de-escalation was attempted. And we need to know when this family will get answers, when this community will get answers."

She added, "I’m not here to prejudge anything. I’m here to make sure that facts are not buried, that Lorenzo’s family deserves answers and my constituents deserve answers. We all Americans deserve answers."

READ MORE: Leaders react to ICE shooting in Houston

According to Houston Mayor John Whitmire's Office, the Houston Police Department was not involved in Tuesday's incident, and the city does not have jurisdiction over federal law enforcement.

In a statement, the Mayor's Office said in part: "It is important to note that the Houston Police Department was not involved in Tuesday’s incident, and the City of Houston does not control federal immigration policy, nor does it have jurisdiction over federal law enforcement officers. A local inquiry cannot supersede a federal investigation, and the City lacks access to the evidence, witnesses, or investigative authorities necessary to conduct a complete review of federal actions. That is why Mayor Whitmire believes the appropriate federal authorities must conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation, with continued engagement from our congressional delegation and the public throughout the process."