Kyle McClenagan/Houston Public Media
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz speak at a HPD facility ground breaking on July 9, 2026.
According to Mayor John Whitmire, the Houston Police Department is investigating the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by a federal immigration agent last week.
“We’re doing everything possible at HPD to investigate this tragic death, and anyone that says different is just wrong,” Whitmire said.
Whitmire’s remarks on Wednesday came one week after he and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said the department lacked jurisdiction to investigate, a claim disputed by legal experts. Since then, Whitmire said, the city turned over 911 audio and METRO bus video footage to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which is investigating the shooting in addition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. HPD also offered assistance last week to the FBI, which is probing the incident as a potential assault on a law enforcement officer.
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“My police chief, former Texas Ranger, has been conducting investigations, sharing everything we have as an HPD office with this district attorney — METRO tape, 911 video,” Whitmire said. “I can’t tell you how we continue to dialogue with the district attorney. But the jurisdiction is federal. They control the evidence. We’re asking them to release that to the Texas Rangers.”
Diaz said last week that HPD officers were not independently gathering evidence, and Whitmire did not clarify on Wednesday whether that has changed. An HPD spokesperson could not immediately say whether officers were seeking evidence.
Whitmire said the FBI was slated to execute a search warrant on the van driven by Salgado Araujo at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and the DA’s office would be present. In a statement, a spokesperson for the DA’s office said it would not discuss details about a pending investigation. The FBI declined to comment, including whether or not this was the first time the agency has looked at the van since the July 7 shooting, referring back to the mayor’s office for clarification.
Whitmire announced the new stance under pressure from council member Edward Pollard.
“People want answers, people want some type of clarity, and people are frustrated with some of the actions of the city,” Pollard told Whitmire.
Before the meeting, Whitmire instructed Diaz to request the Texas Rangers conduct their own investigation into the shooting. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which includes the Rangers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
RELATED: Hundreds protest at Houston City Hall as Whitmire says city shared evidence with DA’s office
Whitmire began his remarks on Wednesday by casting shadows at some community members and activists who spoke to the city council during a public comment session the day before. He said some speakers lacked “decorum” because they used “foul language,” and the city will have “enforcement.”
“We’re not gonna allow that again,” Whitmire said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated July 15 to include comment from FBI representatives.