HPD to provide resources to federal investigation into ICE shooting at request of mayor: PD chief

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department announced on Friday morning that it will provide resources to the federal investigation into the deadly shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

In open letters to both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Houston Division, Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz announced that HPD will make "all appropriate resources available to support" the agencies to ensure their investigation is "conducted in a timely, transparent, and thorough manner."

Diaz said this action comes at the direction of Houston Mayor John Whitmire. In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Mayor Whitmire called for a local, independent investigation and said that he is working with Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. Diaz spoke after Whitmire, stating that HPD does not have jurisdiction over the federal investigation, adding that he will be meeting with the director of the FBI Houston Division next week.

The announcement comes days after Whitmire said that the City of Houston was "monitoring" the situation "very carefully," but will not be involved.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Houston law enforcement will not be involved in investigation into deadly shooting involving ICE

"HPD recognizes the seriousness of the matter and supports a thorough investigation," Diaz said in his letter to DHS-OIG and the FBI Houston Division.

At a press conference Friday morning, Teare said that the DA's office has been conducting their own investigation since Tuesday, adding that they investigate every officer-involved shooting in the county.

Teare said that the DA's office was not invited to the scene of the investigation by federal officials. The DA's office is continuing to look for surveillance video of the shooting as well as talking with witnesses, Teare said.