HOUSTON, Texas

Aaron Reitz, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, has disclosed startling details regarding the fatal shooting of a Mexican man who was in the country illegally. This incident occurred last week when ICE agents were pursuing him. Reitz indicated that drugs were found in the van he was trying to escape from, marking his second attempt to evade officers.

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Reitz announced that the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and his office are currently investigating the reported assault on an ICE officer during a chase that led to the shooting. He provided an update on what has been uncovered thus far.

Reitz stated,

“I want to reassure the public that relevant law enforcement agencies are looking into this situation. This includes my office along with the FBI, DHS, and various state and local partners. While the investigation is ongoing and we haven’t reached any final conclusions, here is what we believe happened.”

On the morning of Tuesday, July 7, federal agents were actively searching for two Guatemalan men driving a white van who had previously eluded arrest and faced possible deportation. As officers sought the van, they received a report of a similar vehicle in the vicinity. Two police cars, with two officers each, activated their lights and attempted to pull over the van and its occupants. When the suspects sped away, making a swift U-turn and leaping over a median, investigators opted not to chase them. Later that same morning, agents spotted the van again. The men attempted to flee once more, but this time, officers effectively surrounded the vehicle. At one point, two police officers exited their cars and directed the noncompliant individuals to stop. Preliminary reports suggest that as an officer stood near the van, the driver suddenly reversed and then drove forward again.

The chief federal prosecutor mentioned that during this attempted escape, an officer fired a shot that struck Lorenzo Salgado, resulting in his death. Although officers provided first aid on the scene, Salgado was later transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.

Following the incident, officers found “several small bags containing a white crystal-like substance” in plain sight near the van. The FBI subsequently secured a search warrant for the vehicle and confiscated the drugs as part of their ongoing investigation.

Reitz emphasized that the information released is preliminary, and no firm conclusions can be drawn at this point.

The passengers in the van were detained and taken to an ICE facility in Conroe, Texas. ICE officials noted that the men will remain in custody without facing deportation until the investigation concludes.

Officials from both Houston County and Harris County are continuing to call for an independent on-site inquiry into Salgado’s death.