Who was Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, through the words of his son
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Ronaldo Salgado pays his respects at a vigil at the site where his father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was killed. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's sons described their father as a private man. But after his public killing by ICE last week, the family will host a viewing Thursday for the public to pay their respects to a man who devoted his life to his family.
What they're saying: Federal officials called Salgado Araujo "an illegal alien from Mexico" in the statement announcing his death. His eldest son, Ronaldo Salgado, said his father was "a simple man, a family man" — a devoted husband, father of three and construction worker with no criminal history who "dedicated his life in the United States to giving his family the American dream."
- "He just wanted to go to work and come back to us," Ronaldo Salgado said at a press conference. "He wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people."
- Salgado Araujo, alongside his wife of 40 years, raised three sons: a teacher, an engineer and a student in college studying engineering as well.
Salgado Araujo enjoyed music and soccer. He lived in the U.S. for nearly 35 years. In the home he built in the East End, he'd eat a hearty meal made by his wife, rest on the porch, listen to music and pet his dog.
On his last morning, Ronaldo said his parents woke around 5. His mother packed his father's lunch and coffee. By 5:50am, he hugged and kissed his wife goodbye, patted the family dog and drove off to pick up his crew.
- Less than an hour later, Salgado Araujo had been fatally shot by an ICE agent in an unmarked vehicle during an enforcement operation. He was not the target of the operation, and the agents involved were not wearing body cameras, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has said. The agency said the shooting was in self-defense, but the three passengers in the van dispute that.
- A New York Times' analysis of witness footage before and after the shooting shows Salgado Araujo's work van being followed by two unmarked ICE SUVs without visible emergency lights.
Zoom out: Hundreds of Houstonians have attended vigils and protests in the days since the shooting. Salgado Araujo's name has been chanted through the streets of the East End as residents, elected officials and immigrant advocates demand answers and an independent investigation.
A week after his father's death, Ronaldo Salgado wrote on social media, "I really really miss him. He deserved to grow old and meet his grandkids. He deserved to age alongside mom ... Te quiero mucho, apa."
- Ronaldo Salgado and his brother, Lorenzo Salgado Jr., said in a Univision interview they want justice and a full public accounting of what happened that morning.
- In a vigil over the weekend, Ronaldo said his mom "wants that lunchbox back to wash it again."
If you go: The public viewing will be held 5-9pm at the Great Chapel at Forest Park Lawndale. The family has asked attendees to wear blue and leave their phones in their cars.
- The funeral will be private among family and close friends.