Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot and killed a Mexican national during an incident in Houston on Tuesday, according to the agency.
The son of the deceased man, identified as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, is calling for an independent investigation into the incident. "He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of 'Mexican man shot and killed by ICE,'" Ronaldo Salgado said during a press conference on Wednesday.
ICE alleged in a statement that its officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Araujo around 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday. The agency stated that Araujo, who is allegedly undocumented, did not follow verbal commands. ICE further alleged that Araujo "weaponized his vehicle" and attempted to run over an officer during the stop, prompting the officer to fire their weapon "in self-defense."
"The driver was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. The driver was transported to the hospital, where he passed away from his injuries," ICE said in a statement. The FBI is currently investigating the situation.
Ronaldo Salgado, joined by representatives from the League of United Latin American Citizens and elected officials including Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Tex., Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, and Rep. Christian Menefee, D-Tex., expressed his heartbreak over his father's death. "He dedicated his life in the United States to giving his family the American dream. He raised my brothers and I on the idea of education taking us so far in life," Ronaldo Salgado said.
The death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo occurred six days after an ICE officer discharged their weapon in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during an incident where the agency alleged a suspect "weaponized his car" and fled. The suspect in that case has not been apprehended.