New Evidence Reveals Details in Marimar Martinez’s Shooting Case

Body camera footage, text messages, and various other pieces of evidence unveiled on Tuesday have provided new insights into last year’s case involving Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago. Martinez had been accused of using her vehicle to assault federal law enforcement, an accusation that was dismissed in November. The recent release of evidence was mandated by a judge and made public by the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago.

The officer who shot Martinez, Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, was reportedly not wearing his body camera at the time of the incident, as per Martinez’s legal representation. Instead, footage from another agent’s body camera, present at the scene, captured the moments leading up to and following the shooting, filmed from inside Exum’s vehicle.

In one of the videos, the agents inside the vehicle can be seen with their weapons drawn. One agent is heard saying, It’s time to get aggressive and get the f— out, because they’re trying to box us in. Another agent’s voice follows with, We’re going to make contact and we’re boxed in. Exum is then observed making a sharp turn with the steering wheel to the left, followed by the apparent impact of a collision. Exiting the vehicle, five gunshots are then heard off-camera.

Text message exchanges involving Exum reveal him discussing the considerable support he received post-shooting. In response to a text about whether people had been supportive, Exum replied, Everyone has been including Chief Bovino, Chief Banks, Sec Noem and El Jefe himself … according to Bovino, referencing former Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. El Jefe translates to the boss in Spanish.

An email sent to Exum, hours after Martinez was shot, from Bovino, who was eventually removed from his position and returned to El Centro, California, stated, I’d like to extend an offer for you to extend your retirement beyond age 57. … In light of your excellent service in Chicago, you have much yet left to do!!

In a joint statement from Martinez and her attorneys, released prior to the evidence going public, they asserted that the evidence unequivocally rebuts any false narratives, emphasizing that Ms. Martinez was a victim of an atrocious violent crime. Martinez presented testimony last week describing her fear of dying after being shot by a Border Patrol officer.

During a news conference, Martinez’s attorney, Chris Parente, emphasized the significance of making these case materials public, allowing people to witness the true evidence versus the purported false claims made by the government. He noted that although most individuals would cease fighting after having their criminal indictment dismissed, being wrongfully labeled a domestic terrorist by one’s own government is unacceptable.

Parente described Martinez as a Montessori school teacher with a clean criminal record, simply on her way to donate clothing to a church when the encounter with immigration agents took place. He expressed concern over the handling of such shooting incidents by federal agencies, particularly in their immediate aftermath.

Following the court’s decision on Friday to release the text messages publicly, Parente argued that joking and bragging about such a shooting incident was contrary to the values the country stands for. Previous court hearings featured Exum’s text messages in which he described the shooting in a cavalier manner.

Government attorneys have noted that a probe into the shooting is being managed by South Bend prosecutors. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has yet to respond to inquiries regarding Exum’s current duty status.

The dismissal of charges against Martinez was followed by her legal team’s renewed commitment to revealing how Homeland Security leaders respond to officer-involved shootings, prompted by the recent fatal shootings involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Parente indicated that the pattern of response from the oversight of these border patrol agents would continue unless addressed.

Martinez’s dismissal of charges came after federal prosecutors moved to have their case thrown out. Her case has been prominent as one where federal authorities accused a civilian of attacking an immigration agents’ vehicle.

The Department of Justice and DHS have not provided any comments on the case. Martinez shared a poignant testimony before Congress, organized by Democratic senators, where she identified herself as a survivor, wrongfully labeled a domestic terrorist after being shot by DHS.

Martinez likened her experiences to those of others killed by immigration law enforcement during the Trump administration. She shared her intent was to warn friends and neighbors of immigration patrols by honking her horn as she neared a local church for a clothing donation.