The investigation into the death of Lorenzo Salgado, the Mexican immigrant who died after being shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston, took a turn after the Harris County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the substance found in his work truck did not test positive for illicit drugs.

The information, released by CBS News, contradicts the initial suspicions raised by federal authorities, who had indicated that the material located in the vehicle could be methamphetamine.

Prosecutor's Office rules out drugs

The office of prosecutor Sean Teare reported in a statement that the analyzes carried out on the substance returned a negative result.

“We can confirm that the substance found in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's truck tested negative for narcotics/illicit drugs,” said the Prosecutor's Office, adding that the family was notified of the results because they considered they had the right to know them.

Although the authorities did not offer more details because the investigation continues, the finding coincides with what was maintained from the beginning by the relatives of the construction worker, who stated that it was granulated salt used to prepare a drink with electrolytes and withstand the high temperatures during the work day.

Family questions official version

The case has generated an intense debate since last July 7, when ICE claimed that Lorenzo Salgado used his truck as a weapon during an attempted arrest, a version that was rejected by the occupants of the vehicle, who remain in immigration custody.

After learning the results of the tests, David Donatti, a lawyer for the ACLU of Texas, criticized the actions of the federal authorities.

“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo should still be alive today (…) That search has demonstrated what the family always claimed: Lorenzo was a hard-working man who built homes for Houston families,” he said.

Investigations continue

According to the aforementioned media, the FBI, the ICE internal affairs office and the Harris County Prosecutor's Office are maintaining parallel investigations into the shooting.

Prosecutor Sean Teare has indicated that, if the investigations find evidence of possible crimes, he is willing to file charges against the officers involved.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Salgado's children, American citizens, maintain their demand for justice and remember their father as a man dedicated to work and his family.