A day after the Tuesday shooting, Whitmire, despite dissent from several City Council members, said there would not be a city-led investigation. But Friday afternoon he promised that city and local leaders “would not rest” until a thorough, independent investigation is conducted.
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz reiterated Whitmire’s earlier claims that the department does not have jurisdiction nor the evidence necessary to conduct an investigation. However, Diaz said he will meet with the FBI Tuesday to discuss what evidence the agency can share with the department.
Legal experts, former police chiefs and former prosecutors, dispute the claim that the city could not conduct an investigation but acknowledge it would be difficult. Experts told the Chronicle this week that Houston police have the authority to conduct their own investigation into Salgado’s death but said local officials have no power to compel federal authorities to share evidence.
“This is a federal matter with the DHS Office of Inspector General leading the shooting investigation,” Diaz said.
Diaz said he sent a letter to the federal agencies saying that HPD is willing to assist but does not have the evidence to handle its own independent probe.
“Of course we have authority to collect information and share what we’ve found, and we’ve done that and we’re gonna continue,” Whitmire said. “We have to be proactive and meet with the FBI and urge them to share their collection of evidence.”
After an ICE agent fatally shot Salgado early Tuesday in the 6800 block of Canal Street, the FBI arrived and secured the site, Whitmire said.
He directed Diaz to ask federal officials to share any evidence they gathered with local police. Diaz also sent a letter to DHS and to the FBI “indicating he will make all appropriate HPD resources available to support the investigation into the fatal shooting,” Whitmire said.
“The Salgado family’s life will never be the same,” Whitmire said. “At no fault of theirs, Mr. Salgado was chased by an unmarked vehicle before he could identify himself and speak as a Houstonian, he was shot and killed.”
U.S. Rep Sylvia Garcia emphasized that Salgado was a Houstonian for 35 years, with no criminal history.
There was no body camera footage, no siren, no lights, no marking on the vehicle that would have identified it as law enforcement, Garcia said. She urged the public to put themselves in Salgado’s shoes. “What would you have done if a black SUV-looking vehicle just started chasing you?”
“The pain is real across Houston,” Whitmire said. “Immigrants make this a great city.”