Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Noe Diaz
formally requested the intervention of the Texas Rangers to conduct an
independent investigation into the shooting that occurred during an operation
involving agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an
incident in which Lorenzo Salgado was wounded.
The request was submitted via an official letter to state
authorities, seeking a review of the case by an entity independent of the
agencies involved. This would ensure an impartial process to clarify how the
events unfolded, determine whether proper protocols were followed, and
establish any potential liability.
The request from city officials came after the Texas
Department of Public Safety (DPS) sent a communication to state legislators
indicating that a formal request was necessary for the Texas Rangers to take
over the investigation.
Whitmire and Díaz stated that, given the public interest
generated by the incident and the involvement of federal agents in the
operation, it is essential that an independent agency analyze the evidence,
gather testimony, and prepare an objective report on the use of force during
the intervention.
To date, authorities have not released the preliminary
results of their internal investigations, nor have they disclosed any further
details about the circumstances in which Lorenzo Salgado was injured.
Meanwhile, the request for the Texas Rangers to take over the case seeks to
strengthen public confidence in the investigation process and ensure that the
conclusions are based on an independent review of the facts.