STARR COUNTY, Texas — Authorities are investigating if there was any criminal wrongdoing in a deadly helicopter crash near the Texas-Mexico border.
According to ABC News, Major Carlos Delgado with the Starr County Sheriff's Office said his agency is still conducting its own criminal investigation into the crash after turning the case over to the Department of Defense.
The crash, which killed two National Guard members and a U.S. Border Patrol agent in March, is under multiple investigations from various agencies. ABC News reports that the criminal investigation is separate from the safety investigation led by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Alabama.
While the sheriff's office said it has not received any final reports so far, it maintains that Texas law allows it to decline to release more information.
RELATED: 2 National Guard members, 1 Border Patrol agent killed in helicopter crash near Texas-Mexico border
What happened?
Federal officials said a UH-72 Lakota helicopter assigned to the federal southwest border support mission crashed near the town of La Grulla on March 8. The crash happened as they conducted aviation operations near Rio Grande City, Texas.
New York Army National Guard members Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, were killed in the crash, along with U.S. Border Patrol agent Chris Luna. Another unidentified National Guard member aboard the helicopter was injured.
Military officials said while the crash involved a New York-based crew, the helicopter was assigned to Washington D.C.'s Army National Guard.
The crash was at least the second incident near the Texas-Mexico border this year. In January, a DPS helicopter crashed in Kinney County after it reportedly lost all power. Thankfully, the co-pilot only suffered a minor hand injury despite the helicopter suffering significant damage.
January's helicopter crash was part of Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbott’s nearly $10 billion border mission that has tested the federal government’s authority over immigration.
