In a warrant to search the van Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was driving when an ICE agent fatally shot him last week in Houston, the FBI said it has cause to believe illegal drugs were in the vehicle, according to court filings.
The warrant cites probable cause for “distribution, manufacturing, or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance.” FBI Special Agent David McNielly submitted the affidavit to a federal magistrate judge on Tuesday, stating he observed small plastic bags “with a white crystal-like substance” in the white cargo van from outside the vehicle. “The packaging and appearance of the controlled substance in the target vehicle is consistent with methamphetamine,” the warrant states. The warrant does not explicitly identify who the bags are believed to belong to.
McNielly wrote that law enforcement had not searched the vehicle prior to filing the warrant. Houston Mayor John Whitmire told CNN that FBI agents were performing a search of the vehicle Wednesday morning.
The warrant was initially sealed when filed but was later unsealed, making its contents public. CNN has reached out to the FBI about whether the contents of the bags have been confirmed or sent for testing. The Department of Homeland Security has not indicated that the ICE agents who stopped Salgado Araujo had any knowledge of drugs possibly being inside the vehicle at the time of the fatal shooting.
The medical examiner ruled that Salgado Araujo’s death was caused by a gunshot to the torso. Officials have not released toxicology information describing any substances in his system at the time of death. The public viewing for Salgado Araujo is scheduled for Friday, with his funeral to follow Saturday.
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