Gov. Greg Abbott calls for Texas Rangers to conduct investigation into deadly ICE shooting

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- On Wednesday, a week after Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed in a shooting involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers agreed to conduct an investigation into the incident.

The video above is from a previous report.

According to a release from DPS, the Texas Rangers, who did not have access to the initial scene, will conduct an investigation alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security.

Salgado Araujo was shot and killed the morning of July 7 after he was pursued by federal agents driving unmarked vehicles while he was taking his crew to their latest job site.

"As previously stated, for decades, it has been the standard, established practice of the Texas Rangers to investigate OIS when requested by an involved law enforcement agency - local, state or federal - or a prosecuting entity," the statement said.

DPS said normally the requests are received within minutes or hours of the incident to "preserve the integrity of the investigation."

Following the announcement, Houston Mayor John Whitmire also issued a statement after he and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. sent a letter to the DPS director on Tuesday, requesting that Texas Rangers step in.

"The public deserves transparency and accountability whenever a person's life is taken by a law enforcement agency.

Gov. Abbott made the right decision to involve the Texas Rangers in the investigation of the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo following a direct request by Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and me on Tuesday.

At a time like this, we must set aside politics and partisanship and focus on the facts. At the same time, the federal government must do its part by requiring body cameras and stronger training for ICE officers to help transparency, accountability, and public trust, as we do with the Houston Police Department.

My office and HPD will continue to assist the Harris County District Attorney, the Rangers, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and all agencies involved as they conduct a thorough and independent investigation."

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