HOUSTON – Houston Police Department Chief J. Noe Diaz sent a letter to the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety requesting the Texas Rangers conduct their own investigation into the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent.
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“During the past week, Chief Diaz and Mayor Whitmire have spoken several times with state and local agencies to ensure a transparent and thorough investigation following the deadly ICE shooting. This afternoon, the mayor directed Chief Diaz to send the letter in response to the DPS letter to state lawmakers saying it needed a formal request. This step is intended to formalize the request and pledge full resources to ensure communication, accountability, and transparency throughout the process,” a statement from a city spokesperson read.
In the letter, Diaz says the Houston Police Department “recognizes the seriousness of the matter and continues to support a thorough investigation.”
“Mayor Whitmire and I are asking the Texas Rangers to conduct their own investigation which will ensure it is independent and transparent. This has been done in previous cases,” Diaz says in the letter.
KPRC 2 has reached out to Texas DPS for a response to the letter.
Houston lawmaker’s letter to Texas DPS
Diaz’ letter comes after the Texas Rangers responded to a group of Houston-area state lawmakers who wrote to the Texas Department of Public Safety urging the agency to open a parallel investigation into the shooting.
“DPS has not received a request from any federal agency or official to investigate the officer-involved shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and is not participating in that investigation at this time,” the agency said in its written response to lawmakers.
In the letter responding to the lawmakers, DPS said it has investigated officer-involved shootings involving federal law enforcement in the past, but only when asked.
“DPS works cooperatively with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and responds to requests for investigative or operational assistance as appropriate,” the agency said. “DPS has received no request from any local law enforcement agency or prosecutor to assist in the investigation of the Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting.”
In their letter to DPS Director Col. Freeman F. Martin, the Houston-area legislators argued the Texas Rangers hold statewide jurisdiction to investigate officer-involved shootings, including those involving federal officers, and have the authority to determine whether any state law was violated.
“The Texas Rangers possess statewide jurisdiction to investigate officer-involved shootings, including those involving federal officers, and to determine whether any state law was violated,” the letter reads. “As members of the legislature representing Harris County, we respectfully request that the Department of Public Safety open a parallel investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. This authority is inherent in Texas’s status as a dual sovereign and under its police powers.”
The letter closed with a direct appeal: “Our community and his family deserve answers.”