Attorney for Witness to ICE Fatal Shooting Tells CNN Alleged Drugs in Vehicle Just ‘Crystalized Salt’

An unsealed search warrant revealed the FBI accused Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, the father of three shot to death by an ICE agent in Texas last week, of having bags of what appeared to be drugs in the van at the time of his death.

While speaking to attorney Ruby L. Powers, who represents Salgado Araujo’s brother, CNN’s Chief National Correspondent John King said that the substance was allegedly “a homemade electrolyte mix.”

Salgado Araujo and his brother worked at a construction site, Powers explained. After she was asked when the results of a toxicology test on the substance would be complete, Powers said she hadn’t been given exact information. The shooting of Araujo, a Mexican man whose family said he was working on his legal status, occurred the same week as a fatal ICE shooting in Maine.

“I only know what the DEA  had said, that it should only take a couple of days,” she answered. “We’re hoping either later today or Monday. But yes, it definitely was unique that the warrant was unsealed, and I was concerned about prejudicing public opinion during this time.”

After King pointed out the warrant was initially sealed, Powers said she hasn’t been told why it was then unsealed.

“Experts have said that it’s very unusual, of the way that it was sealed and then unsealed, and I think ultimately, that’s why we came out with the statement that we did,” she explained. “Even though it was the day of the visitation of Lorenzo, and the family was otherwise detained with the familiy and the public viewing, was because of the impact on public opinion and just wanting to clear my client’s name.”

“It was as simple as crystallized salt to put in an electrolyte drink,” she added.

The New York Times previously reported that the federal agents who shot and killed Salgado Araujo were pursuing someone else. Salgado Araujo was shot in the stomach during the encounter and died at the hospital.

Watch above via CNN.

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