le Logo Want more Houston Chronicle? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source The shooting sparked outrage in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood after residents cast doubt on ICE's initial statement that Araujo and the construction crew he was traveling with were part of a targeted operation. Ronaldo Salgado, son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, holds a photo of his father during a news conference about the ICE shooting death in Houston Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Araujo's family, public officials and local advocacy groups spoke at an emotional news conference Wednesday at the local headquarters of the League of United Latin American Citizens. They roundly called for an independent investigation of the shooting, saying ICE can't be trusted. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It is unacceptable, it is un-American, to use lethal force against a human being, then lock away the evidence, said Roman Palomares, LULAC's national president. Say his name because ICE does not want you to say that name, he said. LULAC CEO Juan Proaño said the official statement on Ajauro's death is reminiscent of the claims surrounding the ICE shooting of Renee Good, who was killed in Minneapolis in January. We will have the truth about Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and we will not stop until we do, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Three other men were detained Tuesday morning, Salgado said. One of the men, confirmed by family and an attorney as Daniel Tirado, was traveling in the van when Araujo was shot, his stepdaughter Monserrat Cardoso told the Houston Chronicle. She cast doubt on ICE's motives and said her stepfather and the crew were racially profiled. They just saw a couple of Hispanic men going to work, so they decided to chase them down and follow them, she said. They were targeted because they're Hispanic men. Ronaldo Salgado, son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, is shown during a news conference about the ICE shooting death of his father in Houston Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle A growing number of Texas Democrats have demanded an independent investigation into the shooting, including U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Christian Menefee and Al Green, all of whom represent Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No family should be left searching for answers in the middle of their grief, Garcia said. ICE has released its version of the story. They made serious allegations against Lorenzo but they are only allegations so please remember that. In a statement, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said there are conflicting reports about the events that led up to the shooting. When a life is taken on our city streets, the public deserves full transparency and the complete truth, he said. Salgado praised his father's work ethic, saying his goal was to provide for his wife and their three sons. He did that quietly and without fanfare for 35 years. He was a man of routine who was in the process of obtaining a work permit. Tuesday morning began like most days, Salgado said - his dad rose early, stocked up on breakfast and coffee, then headed out in his work van to pick up his crew and head to a job site. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Around 7 a.m., I was notified by my mom that something bad had happened to my dad, he said. At 7:05, five minutes after, I left the house, drove all the way up to his work site an hour away to find any evidence of his van. He couldn't find his dad at the work site. At around 8 a.m., he saw a Facebook post describing ICE activity on Canal Street near his home. He wasn't sure if his dad was involved, but he headed that way and found the street blocked off by police. I saw my dad's van, but no sign of him. I frantically called family, friends, loved ones to see if they can find any information, he said. At 10 a.m., he watched a video on Facebook and heard his father crying for help. I went to Ben Taub Hospital and demanded answers, but no one could give them to me. I learned of my father's passing from a news report on social media, not the hospital, not law enforcement, he said. Through a collective effort from local organizations and elected officials, we got answers, he added. My father's death was confirmed. I had to call my mom right away to give her the terrible news of my dad's passing before she had to find out the same way. Ronaldo Salgado, son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, left, is shown as Roman Palomares, LULAC national president, speaks during a news conference in Houston Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Araujo had no criminal record, his son said, and woke up at 5 a.m. every weekday to work construction. My father was a simple man, a family man, he said. 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. According to ICE, Araujo ignored multiple commands to pull over and tried to run over an agent, who shot in self-defense. Garcia said the public heard similar claims from ICE after the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis - and videos soon surfaced that contradicted the agency's official explanation. Remember Minneapolis? Remember Renee Good? Has ICE learned nothing from the experience? Garcia asked. Menefee was blunt.