HOUSTON – Mayor John Whitmire is expected to provide an update Friday afternoon on the investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, days after the incident sparked calls for greater transparency from local leaders.
Whitmire will be joined at a 2:30 p.m. news conference at Houston City Hall by U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and other local officials to discuss the latest developments in the July 7 shooting.
The briefing comes after the mayor announced Friday morning that, at his direction, Diaz has sent letters to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, offering the Houston Police Department’s assistance with the ongoing investigation.
According to the mayor’s office, Diaz informed both agencies that HPD will make “all appropriate resources” available to support the investigation.
The announcement marks a shift from earlier this week, when Whitmire said Houston had no legal authority to conduct its own criminal investigation because the shooting involved federal agents acting within the scope of their duties. At the time, the mayor said the city would remain in contact with federal officials while urging a transparent investigation.
The fatal shooting occurred during what DHS described as a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Houston’s Magnolia Park area. Federal officials have since acknowledged Salgado Araujo was not the individual agents intended to apprehend. The Department of Homeland Security has said an ICE agent opened fire after Salgado Araujo allegedly drove his van toward officers, an account disputed by witnesses and the attorneys representing the other occupants of the vehicle.
The case has drawn widespread attention after DHS confirmed the agents involved were not wearing body-worn cameras, leaving no body camera footage of the shooting. Federal officials have said body cameras have not yet been issued to all ICE field offices.
Friday’s news conference also follows increasing calls from elected officials and community advocates for greater accountability and transparency as multiple investigations continue, including those by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
KPRC 2 will livestream the mayor’s news conference and update this story with additional information as it becomes available.