DA: Man killed by ICE in Texas did not have drugs in van

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

The white substance found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s vehicle, who was fatally shot by ICE officers in Texas, tested negative for narcotics, contradicting earlier claims that it resembled methamphetamine. This revelation challenges the initial justification for the search warrant and raises questions about the federal investigation's transparency, which is still ongoing.

The white substance found in the vehicle of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Texas earlier this month, has tested negative for narcotics, according to Houston prosecutors. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office announced on July 24 that laboratory analysis determined the material was not an illicit drug, contradicting an FBI search warrant application that described the substance as consistent with methamphetamine.

Salgado Araujo, 52, a Mexican father, was killed during a traffic stop on the morning of July 7. The shooting occurred after ICE officers attempted to detain him. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, stated that Salgado Araujo was not the intended target of the operation and that he allegedly tried to evade arrest by attempting to run over an officer with his van. However, men who were present in the vehicle at the time have disputed that account, claiming Salgado Araujo did not pose a threat as officers shot inside the van. Notably, ICE officers involved in the shooting were not equipped with body cameras.

The white substance first came to light in an FBI search warrant application filed on July 14 by Special Agent David McNeilly. The sealed application described the bags as “white crystal-like substance” found on the dashboard and passenger floorboard and characterized it as resembling methamphetamine. McNeilly, a former Houston police officer, sought the warrant to search the van, citing probable cause that federal laws may have been violated.

Salgado Araujo’s family and their attorney, Ruby Powers, contested the drug allegations, explaining the substance was salt intended to mix with water for electrolyte replacement, a common practice among outdoor workers enduring Texas’s heat. Powers criticized the drug claim as an effort to discredit Salgado Araujo and eyewitnesses, calling it a “red herring.” Powers indicated that the lab results confirming the substance was not a controlled substance would be publicly released on July 27.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office indicated it has informed Salgado Araujo’s family of the test results but declined further comment pending the ongoing investigation. ICE referred inquiries about the substance to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston, both of which declined to provide additional remarks.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a civil rights organization, questioned the transparency and fairness of the federal investigation into Salgado Araujo’s death. Roman Palomares, LULAC’s national president, stated that public trust in the investigation is critical and must be earned through openness.

The case remains under review as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.