Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez during a Chicago vehicle confrontation. Agents said she drove at Exum; Martinez and a later state review said she was driving away.
BackgroundWhen can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On October 4, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum fired five rounds at Marimar Martinez’s vehicle during a confrontation involving the agents’ SUV and two civilian vehicles in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. A federal complaint alleged that Martinez and another driver struck and boxed in the agents’ vehicle and that Martinez then drove toward Exum. Martinez said Exum steered into her vehicle and shot her as she drove past or away. She sustained seven gunshot wounds. Federal prosecutors later dismissed the charges against Martinez with prejudice. An Illinois Accountability Commission review concluded that available video, photographs and witness evidence indicated Martinez was stationary or driving away and found reasonable cause to investigate a shooting without apparent justification. No publicly identified recording continuously captures the collision and gunfire, and no court has adjudicated whether Exum’s use of force was lawful. The dispute is whether Martinez posed an imminent threat when Exum fired.
Background: When can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Read the full background
This case classifies responses to Agent Charles Exum’s decision to fire five rounds at Marimar Martinez’s vehicle on October 4, 2025. Martinez’s decision to follow and alert others to the Border Patrol vehicle, the separate vehicle collisions and the later dismissal of criminal charges do not independently resolve whether she posed an imminent threat when Exum fired.
The federal probable-cause affidavit (opens in a new tab) presents the participating agents’ account. It alleges that Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz used their vehicles to strike and box in the agents’ SUV and that, after the agents exited, Martinez drove toward the driver, who fired approximately five shots. The affidavit says only one of the three agents’ body cameras was activated. It was submitted to establish probable cause and expressly did not include every fact known to investigators.
In her February 3, 2026 Senate-forum statement (opens in a new tab), Martinez gave the opposing account. She said Exum steered into her vehicle, that she moved into the far-left lane to escape and that he shot her as she drove past and away. Her statement is direct first-person evidence but remains a disputed account rather than an adjudicated finding.
The Illinois Accountability Commission’s Brighton Park brief (opens in a new tab) reviewed available body-camera and surveillance material, vehicle photographs, witness interviews and court records. It said no publicly identified video captures the actual crash and shooting, but concluded that the available evidence indicated Exum steered into Martinez’s vehicle and fired while she was stationary or driving away. The commission found reasonable cause for further investigation of a shooting without apparent justification. That is a later state-commission finding, not a criminal conviction or civil judgment.
The Justice Department’s case page (opens in a new tab) records that the court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charges against Martinez and Ruiz on November 20, 2025. The dismissal ended that prosecution but did not adjudicate the lawfulness of Exum’s gunfire.
WTTW’s report on the February 2026 evidence release (opens in a new tab) describes other agents’ body-camera material, surveillance photographs and messages sent after the shooting. It also reports that Exum’s body camera was not activated and that CBP placed him on administrative leave. The publicly available record therefore provides substantial evidence surrounding the event but does not supply a continuous recording of the decisive seconds.
People in this case
JB PritzkerCommented
Pramila JayapalCommented
Patty MurrayCommented
Mazie HironoCommented
Timeline
13 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 4, 2025 to October 5, 2026
October 2025
Charles Exum shoots Marimar Martinez during Brighton Park vehicle confrontation
Incident
Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum fired five rounds at Martinez’s vehicle after a collision involving the agents’ SUV and civilian vehicles. Martinez sustained seven gunshot wounds. The parties dispute who caused the collision and whether Martinez drove toward Exum when he fired.
[01]United States Department of Justice
Source excerpt
MARTINEZ drove the Martinez Vehicle at BPA 1.
FBI probable-cause affidavit presenting the participating Border Patrol agents’ account, photographs and one agent’s body-camera material. It alleges Martinez drove toward an agent before five shots were fired. It was filed to establish probable cause, not to adjudicate the shooting, and the resulting charges were later dismissed with prejudice.
Criminal complaint and affidavit in United States v. Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz · United States Department of JusticeCase 1:25-cr-00636, criminal complaint and affidavit, pages 1-9[02]Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of Force
Source excerpt
The Agent swerved into me. The Agent shot me as I drove away from him.
Martinez’s first-person written testimony describing the collision, shooting, hospitalization, prosecution and dismissal. It supplies her account of the disputed event and is not an independent adjudication.
Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of ForcePages 1-4, especially pages 1 and 3[03]Illinois Accountability Commission
Source excerpt
Agent Charles Exum shot an unarmed civilian without apparent justification.
Official Illinois Accountability Commission investigation brief based on available body-camera and surveillance material, vehicle photographs, witness interviews, court records and public reporting. It concluded there was reasonable cause for further investigation; it is not a criminal or civil judgment.
Brighton Park Investigation Brief · Illinois Accountability CommissionPages 3-11; determination on page 11Federal complaint alleges Martinez drove toward a Border Patrol agent
Claim
An FBI probable-cause affidavit alleged that Martinez and another driver struck and boxed in the Border Patrol vehicle and that Martinez drove toward the agent who fired. Martinez and Ruiz were charged with assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officers.
[01]United States Department of Justice
Source excerpt
MARTINEZ drove the Martinez Vehicle at BPA 1.
FBI probable-cause affidavit presenting the participating Border Patrol agents’ account, photographs and one agent’s body-camera material. It alleges Martinez drove toward an agent before five shots were fired. It was filed to establish probable cause, not to adjudicate the shooting, and the resulting charges were later dismissed with prejudice.
Criminal complaint and affidavit in United States v. Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz · United States Department of JusticeCase 1:25-cr-00636, criminal complaint and affidavit, pages 1-9[04]United States Department of Justice
Source excerpt
The court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charges against both defendants.
Justice Department announcement summarizing the original charges and the government’s account. The page was later updated to record the November 20, 2025 dismissal of the charges against Martinez and Ruiz.
Federal complaint charges two individuals with using their vehicles to assault federal agents in Chicago · United States Department of JusticeOpening paragraphs and dismissal update
November 2025
Federal charges against Martinez and Ruiz dismissed with prejudice
The federal court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charges against both defendants with prejudice. The dismissal ended the prosecution but did not adjudicate whether Exum’s use of force was lawful.
[04]United States Department of Justice
Source excerpt
The court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charges against both defendants.
Justice Department announcement summarizing the original charges and the government’s account. The page was later updated to record the November 20, 2025 dismissal of the charges against Martinez and Ruiz.
Federal complaint charges two individuals with using their vehicles to assault federal agents in Chicago · United States Department of JusticeOpening paragraphs and dismissal update
February 2026
Martinez gives her account at Senate forum
Reaction
Martinez submitted a written statement saying Exum steered into her vehicle and fired as she drove past and away. She described her injuries, detention and the subsequent dismissal of the charges.
[02]Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of Force
Source excerpt
The Agent swerved into me. The Agent shot me as I drove away from him.
Martinez’s first-person written testimony describing the collision, shooting, hospitalization, prosecution and dismissal. It supplies her account of the disputed event and is not an independent adjudication.
Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of ForcePages 1-4, especially pages 1 and 3Released evidence adds body-camera material, photographs and agent messages
Source release
Martinez and her attorney released evidence from the dismissed criminal case. Reporting described body-camera audio and video from other agents, surveillance photographs and messages sent after the shooting; Exum’s own body camera was not activated.
[05]New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys say
Source excerpt
Much of it contradicts the narrative spread by DHS.
WTTW report on released agent messages, surveillance photographs and body-camera material. It records the competing interpretation advanced by Martinez’s attorney, notes that Exum’s camera was not activated and quotes CBP’s statement that Exum was placed on administrative leave.
New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys sayEvidence release, body-camera description and paragraphs on administrative leave
April 2026
Illinois Accountability Commission issues Brighton Park findings
Source release
The commission concluded there was reasonable cause to investigate Exum for shooting an unarmed civilian without apparent justification. It said the available evidence indicated Martinez was stationary or driving away, while noting that no public video continuously captured the crash and shooting.
[03]Illinois Accountability Commission
Source excerpt
Agent Charles Exum shot an unarmed civilian without apparent justification.
Official Illinois Accountability Commission investigation brief based on available body-camera and surveillance material, vehicle photographs, witness interviews, court records and public reporting. It concluded there was reasonable cause for further investigation; it is not a criminal or civil judgment.
Brighton Park Investigation Brief · Illinois Accountability CommissionPages 3-11; determination on page 11
July 2026
Jayapal and Raskin cite Martinez in a body-camera demand
Reaction
Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin sent DHS and ICE a July 30 letter demanding functional body cameras. They named Marimar Martinez among people whose shootings, they argued, DHS had described with false or unsubstantiated allegations.
[06]Raskin and Jayapal demand functional body cameras for ICE agents
The lawmakers' body-camera demand and criticism of DHS shooting accounts.
Raskin and Jayapal demand functional body cameras for ICE agentsJuly 30 letter, page 2 paragraph naming Marimar Martinez; requests on pages 2-3 and signatures on page 3.
August 2026
Chicago Police open criminal investigation into the Exum shooting
The Chicago Police Department's Investigative Response Team, which investigates all officer-involved shootings within city limits including those involving outside law enforcement, opened a criminal investigation into Agent Exum's shooting of Martinez. A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the assignment to the Chicago Sun-Times after Martinez's attorney said the FBI and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division had not investigated the shooting.
[07]Chicago Sun-Times
Source excerpt
The investigation into Martinez's Oct. 4 shooting by Border Patrol agent Charles Exum has been assigned to the police department's Investigative Response Team, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
Reports that Chicago Police's Investigative Response Team opened a criminal investigation into the Exum shooting after Martinez's attorney said the FBI and DOJ Civil Rights Division had not acted; includes quoted statements from attorney Christopher Parente and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
Chicago police investigating Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez after feds took no action · Chicago Sun-TimesFull article[08]CBS News
Source excerpt
Wednesday the Chicago Police Department confirmed their Investigative Response Team is investigating the Brighton Park shooting.
CBS News Chicago corroborates CPD IRT's investigation into the Exum shooting and notes State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's office said it can only bring charges after law enforcement completes an investigation.
Chicago police confirm Investigative Response Team is investigating Brighton Park shooting · CBS NewsFull article
September 2026
Amnesty publishes its shooting assessment
Source release
Amnesty condemns the Martinez shooting.
[09]Amnesty International
Amnesty evaluates the shootings and requests independent investigations.
Amnesty International assessments of four immigration-agent shootings · Amnesty InternationalPrinted pages 85, 87, 89 and 92; concluding paragraphs.
October 2026
ICE tells ABC7 that its vehicle-stop memo makes no changes
Reaction
ABC7 reported vehicle-stop guidance while discussing this shooting. In an emailed response, an ICE spokesperson said the memo did not change how ICE conducts vehicle stops and that all officers had always received training. The article was published October 2.
[10]ABC7 reports ICE's response to vehicle-stop guidance
ABC7 discusses the Martinez and Villegas Gonzalez shootings in its report on vehicle-stop guidance. An ICE spokesperson tells the outlet by email that the memo changes no vehicle-stop practices. The article displays October 2 at 11:18 p.m. without a timezone.
ABC7 reports ICE's response to vehicle-stop guidanceOctober 2 article, opening vehicle-stop guidance paragraphs and final emailed statement from an ICE spokesperson.Martinez's attorney announces planned lawsuit and reconstruction
Claim
FOX 32 reported that Marimar Martinez planned to sue the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Her attorney Christopher Parente said an expert reconstruction contradicted Charles Exum's account of where he stood when he fired. The report announced a press conference for that afternoon but did not include a filed complaint or docket number.
[11]Marimar Martinez to sue federal government over Border Patrol shooting in Chicago
Source excerpt
He was behind it and shot her through the back
FOX 32 reports Christopher Parente's account of an expert reconstruction and plans to file a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit on October 5. The reconstruction described here is the attorney's account, not a judicial finding. The report announces a planned press conference; it does not provide a filed complaint or docket number.
Marimar Martinez to sue federal government over Border Patrol shooting in ChicagoSection 'What they're saying', Christopher Parente's description of bullet-hole analysis and his quotation about Exum's location.Martinez files federal lawsuit against the United States
Marimar Martinez filed a civil complaint against the United States in the Northern District of Illinois over her October 2025 shooting and subsequent detention. The complaint, docketed as case 1:26-cv-12187, seeks compensatory damages for physical and emotional injuries. Martinez alleges negligence, battery, assault, false arrest and other misconduct.
[12]Marimar Martinez v. United States of America, filed complaint
Martinez's filed complaint against the United States seeks compensation for injuries from her shooting and subsequent detention. The filing stamp identifies October 5, 2026. Its allegations are Martinez's claims.
Marimar Martinez v. United States of America, filed complaintCase 1:26-cv-12187, Document 1, filed October 5, 2026; page 1 caption and filing stamp; page 33 relief requested[13]NBC News
Source excerpt
I want to spread awareness, because what's happening is not normal. We shouldn't stay here and normalize what's happening.
NBC reports Martinez's federal lawsuit and quotes her remarks at the October 5 press conference. She describes her recovery and says the violence should not become normal.
Chicago woman shot 5 times by CBP officer files federal lawsuit · NBC NewsPublished October 5, 2026, 5:09 PM EDT; lawsuit lead and paragraph beginning "I'm just glad to see another year"[14]Marimar Martinez Sues Feds A Year After Border Patrol Agent Shot Her 5 Times
Block Club's on-scene reporting describes the filed lawsuit and Martinez's press-conference remarks. It quotes her opposition to normalizing the violence and her wish to prevent further victims.
Marimar Martinez Sues Feds A Year After Border Patrol Agent Shot Her 5 TimesOctober 5, 2026; lead, press-conference photographs and final Martinez quotationCBP responds to Martinez's lawsuit with leave and use-of-force review information
Reaction
CBP told the Associated Press, in response to Martinez's lawsuit, that Exum had been placed on administrative leave. It said use-of-force incidents undergo investigation, review and presentation to an independent board. The statement did not specify when Exum was placed on leave.
[15]Associated Press
AP reports remarks made at Martinez's October 5 press conference and a CBP statement supplied in response to her lawsuit. CBP said Exum had been placed on administrative leave and described its use-of-force review process. The report does not date the original leave decision. Parente's allegations about the shooting and Exum's statements remain attributed to Martinez's lawyer.
AP reports CBP's response to Martinez's lawsuit and Parente's shooting allegations · Associated PressSection 'Agent fired into rear of car, attorneys say': Parente's three alleged false statements and CBP's statement in response to the suit; page updated October 5 at 8:46 PM EDT.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
United States Department of Justice
Martinez and another driver struck and boxed in the Border Patrol vehicle, after which Martinez drove her vehicle toward the agent who fired five shots.
Sources (2)
- Criminal complaint and affidavit in United States v. Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz · United States Department of JusticeCase 1:25-cr-00636, criminal complaint and affidavit, pages 1-9
- Federal complaint charges two individuals with using their vehicles to assault federal agents in Chicago · United States Department of JusticeOpening paragraphs and dismissal update
Disputed claim
Agent Charles Exum steered the Border Patrol vehicle into Martinez’s vehicle and then shot her as she drove past and away from him.
Sources (1)
- Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of ForcePages 1-4, especially pages 1 and 3
Disputed claim
Illinois Accountability Commission
Available evidence indicates that Exum fired while Martinez was stationary or driving away, creating reasonable cause to investigate the shooting as apparently unjustified.
Sources (1)
- Brighton Park Investigation Brief · Illinois Accountability CommissionPages 3-11; determination on page 11
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
22 responses. First 6 shown initially. Newest first.
Christopher ParenteAttorney representing Marimar Martinez Before this statement
WTTW reports that Martinez's attorneys commissioned a reconstruction using bullet holes in her vehicle. Parente alleged that Exum's account of firing through the windshield was contradicted by shots entering from the vehicle's rear.
"In what world could you justify that?"
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Christopher Parente criticized Exum's shooting at the October 5 press conference. Discussing his legal team's reconstruction, he said the gunfire could not be justified and accused agents of giving false accounts to defend it.
After the statement
WTTW quotes Parente saying the shooting could not be justified and accusing agents of lying to defend it. AP independently reports his criticism of firing through the rear passenger window and his allegation that Exum made three false statements to the FBI.
WTTW reports Parente's criticism and reconstruction at Martinez's October 5 press conferenceParagraph beginning 'In what world could you justify that?' and preceding paragraphs about the commissioned reconstruction; October 5, 2026, 6:39 PM.AP reports CBP's response to Martinez's lawsuit and Parente's shooting allegations · Associated PressSection 'Agent fired into rear of car, attorneys say': Parente's three alleged false statements and CBP's statement in response to the suit; page updated October 5 at 8:46 PM EDT.Why this label?
Parente expressly rejects justification for Exum's gunfire. His rhetorical question and surrounding remarks criticize the shooting itself, beyond disputing the agents' description of the encounter.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Marimar MartinezShooting survivor and plaintiff speaking at an October 5 press conferenceDirectly involved Before this statement
Martinez spoke at the October 5 press conference about her lawsuit and recovery. NBC quotes her saying she was glad to see another year with her family.
"I want to spread awareness, because what's happening is not normal. We shouldn't stay here and normalize what's happening."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Marimar Martinez criticized the violence surrounding her shooting and said it should not become normal, speaking as her attorneys announced her filed civil lawsuit.
After the statement
Block Club also reports Martinez saying she has a voice and does not want others to suffer the same violence. Her attorneys presented their reconstruction of the shooting and sought accountability.
Chicago woman shot 5 times by CBP officer files federal lawsuit · NBC NewsPublished October 5, 2026, 5:09 PM EDT; lawsuit lead and paragraph beginning "I'm just glad to see another year"Marimar Martinez Sues Feds A Year After Border Patrol Agent Shot Her 5 TimesOctober 5, 2026; lead, press-conference photographs and final Martinez quotationWhy this label?
The conduct under scrutiny is Exum's shooting of Martinez. In remarks about her shooting and other victims, Martinez rejects treating that violence as normal and says she wants it to stop.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Christopher ParenteAttorney for Marimar Martinez, describing an expert reconstruction to FOX 32 Chicago Before this statement
FOX 32 reported that Martinez's attorneys planned to present an animated reconstruction at a press conference about a planned federal lawsuit.
"He was behind it and shot her through the back"
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Christopher Parente said an expert's review of bullet holes in Marimar Martinez's vehicle and wounds placed Charles Exum behind the vehicle when he fired. He said the reconstruction contradicted Exum's account that he was in front of the vehicle.
After the statement
Parente attributed the reconstruction to an expert's review. The report does not include the expert's full analysis or a court ruling on it.
Marimar Martinez to sue federal government over Border Patrol shooting in ChicagoSection 'What they're saying', Christopher Parente's description of bullet-hole analysis and his quotation about Exum's location.Why this label?
Parente disputes the agent's claimed position when he fired, using his account of the reconstruction. This quotation challenges the factual account of the shooting.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
JB PritzkerGovernor of IllinoisBefore this statement
The post marks the first anniversary of the October 4, 2025 shooting of Marimar Martinez during Operation Midway Blitz.
"Marimar Martinez was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent and branded a “domestic terrorist” by DHS — all for just warning her neighbors and speaking her truth during Operation Midway Blitz. She deserves true justice and accountability from the federal government."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Governor JB Pritzker criticized the shooting of Marimar Martinez and DHS's description of her as a domestic terrorist. On the shooting anniversary, he said she had been warning her neighbors and called for justice and accountability from the federal government.
After the statement
Pritzker closes the caption by calling for justice and federal accountability. WTTW and the Chicago Sun-Times subsequently quoted that call in their October 5 reporting on Martinez's lawsuit.
Governor Pritzker calls for accountability for Marimar Martinez on the shooting anniversary · JB PritzkerPost 2106856006886314290, full written caption; published October 4, 2026 at 21:16:30 UTCWhy this label?
Pritzker criticizes the shooting under scrutiny by saying Martinez was shot for warning her neighbors. His call for justice follows that criticism of the shooting and DHS's description of her.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Amnesty InternationalHuman rights organizationBefore this statement
Page 85 assesses the shooting.
"unlawful use of lethal force"
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Amnesty calls the Martinez shooting unlawful.
After the statement
Amnesty requests an independent investigation.
Amnesty International assessments of four immigration-agent shootings · Amnesty InternationalPrinted pages 85, 87, 89 and 92; concluding paragraphs.Why this label?
Amnesty rejects Exum's gunfire.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Lawrence BenitoExecutive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Before this statement
Benito joined elected officials and advocates calling for accountability for DHS conduct.
"Whether it be the apartment raids in South Shore, the shooting of Marimar Martinez in Brighton Park, or the murder of Silverio Villegas González, it’s been proven that ICE does NOT keep us safe - they are designed to intimidate communities of color and deport as many people as possible."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Benito cited the Martinez shooting as evidence that ICE does not keep communities safe.
After the statement
He urged local leaders to stand with immigrants and enforce protections for their communities.
Why this label?
He uses the shooting as a principal example in a broader condemnation of ICE’s conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Show fewer responses
Christopher ParenteAttorney representing Marimar Martinez Before this statement
Parente said: "We patiently waited for nearly a year for the FBI or the [Justice Department's] Civil Rights Division to do their job and investigate the attempted murder of Ms. Martinez by Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum."
"After learning they are unwilling to do their job, or even investigate the facts, we now turn to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office for help ensuring that the concepts of justice and accountability still exist in the United States of America."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Martinez's attorney Christopher Parente said the FBI and DOJ Civil Rights Division had refused to investigate the shooting and announced the legal team was turning to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office instead.
After the statement
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that CPD's Investigative Response Team had separately been assigned to investigate the shooting, and that no federal agent had been charged with an on-duty crime connected to Operation Midway Blitz.
Chicago police investigating Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez after feds took no action · Chicago Sun-TimesFull articleWhy this label?
Parente directly faults the federal government for refusing to investigate what he calls an attempted murder, framing the inaction as a failure of justice and accountability. That is a condemnation of the federal agencies' handling of the case, not of Exum's conduct itself, so the target is DHS rather than Exum or Border Patrol.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Cook County State's Attorney's OfficeOffice of the elected Cook County State's Attorney, responding in a statement to the Chicago Sun-TimesBefore this statement
The Sun-Times reported that Burke's office had said "no one is above the law — including federal agents," but had also stressed that it is the responsibility of law enforcement to build a case before her office can consider charges. No federal agent had been charged with an on-duty crime connected to Operation Midway Blitz.
"The Cook County State's Attorney's Office is committed to seeking justice on behalf of anyone harmed during Operation Midway Blitz when the evidence and the law support a prosecution."
Mixed or conditionalCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said it is committed to seeking justice for anyone harmed during Operation Midway Blitz if the evidence and law support a prosecution, after Martinez's attorney asked the office to take up the case.
After the statement
The statement came after CPD's Investigative Response Team had been assigned to investigate the Exum shooting, following Parente's public statement that the FBI and DOJ Civil Rights Division had not investigated it.
Chicago police investigating Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez after feds took no action · Chicago Sun-TimesFull articleWhy this label?
The office commits to prosecuting if evidence and law support it, but does not say whether it believes that threshold is met here, and does not characterize Exum's conduct as justified or unjustified. It neither condemns nor defends the shooting; it conditions any action on a future evidentiary judgment, which is a conditional commitment rather than a position on the underlying dispute.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Pramila JayapalU.S. representative and ranking member of the House immigration subcommitteeBefore this statement
The letter was addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella.
"DHS and its component agencies have consistently made false and unsubstantiated allegations about people its agents shot, including Renée Good, Alex Pretti, Ruben Ray Martinez, and Marimar Martinez. DHS initially claimed these U.S. citizens, all of whom they either killed or maimed, were attacking law enforcement officers."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin cited Marimar Martinez when criticizing DHS's accounts of people shot by immigration agents. Their July 30 letter called those accounts false or unsubstantiated and demanded functional body cameras for ICE agents.
After the statement
The letter called on DHS to train and equip every agent who interacts with the public with a fully functional body-worn camera and to hold accountable agents who do not turn theirs on.
Raskin and Jayapal demand functional body cameras for ICE agentsJuly 30 letter, page 2 paragraph naming Marimar Martinez; requests on pages 2-3 and signatures on page 3.Why this label?
The case asks whether Agent Exum was justified in shooting Martinez. Jayapal and Raskin wrote that DHS made false and unsubstantiated allegations about people its agents shot, naming Martinez, and that DHS initially claimed these citizens were attacking officers. The letter attacks DHS's account and credibility but never evaluates Exum's firing, so Challenged the characterization fits. Condemned is the closest competing label; it loses because the letter's target is DHS's statements and body-camera practice, not the force used on Martinez.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Illinois Legislative Latino CaucusCaucus of Latino members of the Illinois General Assembly Before this statement
The caucus summarized findings it attributed to the Illinois Accountability Commission.
"The findings of the Illinois Accountability Commission are clear: a documented pattern of ICE, Border Patrol and federal agents making discriminatory arrests based on race and ethnicity, acting recklessly, endangering the lives of community members and retaliating against rapid responders and community members – not only in the case of Villegas González, but also in the shooting of Marimar Martinez."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
The caucus said the Martinez shooting formed part of a documented pattern of reckless federal conduct that endangered community members.
After the statement
It said Illinois should establish that this kind of reckless behavior is unacceptable.
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Statement on Illinois State Police Investigation into 2025 ICE ShootingStatement paragraphs addressing Silverio Villegas González and Marimar MartinezWhy this label?
The institutional statement characterizes the conduct surrounding the shooting as reckless and dangerous.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Illinois Accountability CommissionIllinois state investigative commissionBefore this statement
The commission examined available video, photographs, witness interviews, court materials and public reporting about the Brighton Park incident.
"Agent Charles Exum shot an unarmed civilian without apparent justification."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
The Illinois Accountability Commission found reasonable cause to investigate the shooting as unjustified.
After the statement
Its brief recommended further investigation and did not purport to be a criminal or civil judgment.
Brighton Park Investigation Brief · Illinois Accountability CommissionPages 3-11; determination on page 11Why this label?
The commission explicitly states that the shooting lacked apparent justification.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Patty MurrayU.S. senator for WashingtonBefore this statement
In a video released March 10, 2026, Murray said body-camera footage from inside the Border Patrol vehicle makes it "pretty clear" that "the agent who shot Martinez, is the one doing the ramming," contradicting DHS's account that Martinez rammed agents.
"The dishonesty here is shocking—and honestly, scary."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Sen. Patty Murray said in a March 2026 video that body-camera footage contradicts DHS's account that Marimar Martinez rammed Border Patrol agents, and called the department's account of the shooting dishonest.
After the statement
She added that Martinez, a U.S. citizen, "is lucky to be alive," and went on to the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minnesota.
Murray's March 10 remarks on immigration-agent shootings · Patty MurrayMARIMAR MARTINEZ, JULIO CESAR SOSA-CELIS and CARLOS JIMENEZ sectionsWhy this label?
The reference point is Agent Charles Exum's gunfire at Marimar Martinez. Murray says body-camera footage shows the agent who shot Martinez doing the ramming and calls DHS's account dishonest, which rejects the justification for the shooting. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization, but she goes beyond disputing DHS's description to say the agent caused the collision.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mazie HironoU.S. senator questioning the homeland security secretary at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearingBefore this statement
Hirono cited Martinez while questioning Noem about excessive force and what Hirono described as false DHS statements about people injured by federal agents.
"The lies that you and this regime spread are creating a culture that fosters abuse of power. This is the reason we need clear guardrails on DHS."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Hirono said DHS had falsely characterized Martinez before an investigation and argued that the department's statements fostered abuse of power.
After the statement
She called for guardrails on DHS, including policing standards and restrictions on enforcement tactics.
Hirono presses Noem on DHS statements and use of force · Mazie HironoParagraphs identifying Marimar Martinez and Hirono's call for DHS guardrailsWhy this label?
Hirono rejected DHS's characterization of Martinez and linked it to a broader pattern of excessive force and misleading official statements.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Richard BlumenthalU.S. senator questioning the homeland security secretary at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearingBefore this statement
Blumenthal described Martinez's account and asked Noem to condemn both the shooting and the agent's reported comments.
"I don't know why you can't join me in saying it was wrong to shoot Marimar, almost cause her death, and then brag about it."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Blumenthal said it was wrong for the agent to shoot Martinez and then brag about the shooting.
After the statement
After Noem said she did not know the case details, Blumenthal repeated that the shooting and reported boasting were wrong.
Blumenthal questions Noem about constitutional violations and abuse by DHS agents · Richard BlumenthalFull transcript, exchange concerning Marimar MartinezWhy this label?
Blumenthal explicitly said the shooting was wrong, so the statement directly condemns the use of force.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Kristi NoemU.S. secretary of homeland security testifying before the Senate Judiciary CommitteeBefore this statement
Blumenthal asked Noem whether shooting Martinez and then bragging about it was wrong.
"Sir, the way that you have portrayed it, it appears to be, but let me look at the case so I can speak to the specifics of it."
Mixed or conditionalCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Noem said the shooting appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it, while withholding a final position until she could review the case.
After the statement
Noem said she would review the case and later declined to say whether the agent should remain on duty.
Blumenthal questions Noem about constitutional violations and abuse by DHS agents · Richard BlumenthalFull transcript, exchange concerning Marimar MartinezWhy this label?
Noem agreed only that the conduct appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it and reserved judgment pending review, making her position conditional.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Christopher ParenteAttorney for Marimar Martinez Before this statement
At a news conference, Parente presented messages, surveillance images and body-camera material from the federal case.
"They picked the wrong victim to mess with."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Parente said newly released evidence contradicted DHS’s account and showed Martinez was wrongly portrayed as the aggressor.
After the statement
He said the evidence contradicted claims that Martinez boxed in agents or drove directly at Exum.
New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys sayEvidence release, body-camera description and paragraphs on administrative leaveWhy this label?
He contests the government’s characterization of Martinez and the factual basis offered to justify the shooting.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Tammy DuckworthU.S. senator (D-IL), in a press release issued the day she met MartinezBefore this statement
Duckworth met Martinez on February 3, 2026, the day Martinez testified at a bicameral congressional public forum on DHS use of force. The release describes Martinez as a U.S. citizen who was shot by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood in October.
"Marimar Martinez’s story, as harrowing and horrific as it is, is sadly not an isolated incident. Untrained and highly aggressive agents shot Marimar and continue slandering her name while hiding evidence that could prove they are lying."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Duckworth said untrained and highly aggressive agents shot Martinez and continue to slander her name while hiding evidence, and she called for independent investigations of DHS and the Justice Department.
After the statement
The release says Duckworth had asked the DHS and Justice Department inspectors general to investigate use-of-force incidents and that both offices denied the request. It also says federal prosecutors announced they would no longer oppose release of the agents' body camera footage.
Duckworth Meets with Woman Shot Five Times by Trump's DHS, Marimar Martinez, Underscoring Need for Oversight on DHS · Tammy DuckworthDuckworth quotation in the second paragraph of the release textWhy this label?
The case asks whether Agent Charles Exum was justified in shooting Marimar Martinez. Duckworth called Martinez's story harrowing and horrific, said untrained and highly aggressive agents shot her and continue to slander her name while hiding evidence, and called for independent investigations of use-of-force incidents during what she called reckless immigration enforcement surges. That rejects the shooting and the response to it, so the label is Condemned.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Marimar MartinezPerson shot by Charles ExumDirectly involved Before this statement
In prepared testimony, Martinez recounted following the Border Patrol vehicle and the collision that preceded the shooting.
"The Agent swerved into me. The Agent shot me as I drove away from him."
CondemnedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Martinez said Exum caused the collision and shot her while she was driving away.
After the statement
She described surviving the gunshot wounds and accused federal officials of advancing a false account of the incident.
Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of ForcePages 1-4, especially pages 1 and 3Why this label?
Her account directly rejects self-defense and portrays the shooting as unjustified.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Charles ExumU.S. Border Patrol agent testifying in federal courtDirectly involved Before this statement
During cross-examination, Martinez’s attorney questioned Exum about messages he sent after the shooting.
"I did what I had to do to save my life."
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Exum said he fired because he believed the shooting was necessary to save his life.
After the statement
Exum’s testimony defended his use of force while the defense disputed his account of the collision.
Why this label?
This directly justifies the shooting as self-defense.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Kristi NoemU.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Before this statement
Noem described a confrontation in which she said vehicles cornered and threatened Border Patrol agents.
"Our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired and an individual ended up in the hospital that was attacking these officers."
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Noem said agents fired to protect themselves from an attacker.
After the statement
DHS identified Martinez as the injured driver and continued to characterize the encounter as an ambush.
Protester shot in Chicago by Border Patrol agents who claim they were ambushed by convoy · ABC NewsParagraphs 2-6Why this label?
This explicitly presents the shooting as a defensive response to an attack.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityFederal department responsible for Border Patrol and immigration enforcementDirectly involvedBefore this statement
DHS issued its account shortly after the Brighton Park shooting.
"Border Patrol law enforcement officers were ambushed by domestic terrorists that rammed federal agents with their vehicles."
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
DHS said Martinez and others ambushed and rammed agents, framing the gunfire as a response to an attack.
After the statement
Later video, ballistics evidence and witness accounts were cited by Martinez’s lawyers and state investigators to dispute that account.
Brighton Park Investigation Brief · Illinois Accountability CommissionPages 3-11; determination on page 11Why this label?
The department’s account supplies the asserted justification for the agents’ use of force.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Gregory BovinoBorder Patrol commander overseeing Chicago enforcement operationsBefore this statement
Bovino emailed Exum less than four hours after Exum fired five rounds at Martinez.
"In light of your excellent service in Chicago, you have much yet left to do!!"
Defended or excusedCase context: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
Full statement and sources
Bovino praised Exum’s service and offered to extend his retirement age hours after the shooting.
After the statement
The email later became public with other messages and body-camera material from the dismissed criminal case.
New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys sayEvidence release, body-camera description and paragraphs on administrative leaveWhy this label?
The immediate praise and offer of continued service communicate approval of Exum’s conduct after the shooting.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(25)
Original text
Criminal complaint and affidavit in United States v. Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz
Relevant passage: Case 1:25-cr-00636, criminal complaint and affidavit, pages 1-9
Excerpt
"MARTINEZ drove the Martinez Vehicle at BPA 1."
About this source
FBI probable-cause affidavit presenting the participating Border Patrol agents’ account, photographs and one agent’s body-camera material. It alleges Martinez drove toward an agent before five shots were fired. It was filed to establish probable cause, not to adjudicate the shooting, and the resulting charges were later dismissed with prejudice.
- Author
- Caitlin Malone
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Amnesty International assessments of four immigration-agent shootings
Relevant passage: Printed pages 85, 87, 89 and 92; concluding paragraphs.
About this source
Amnesty evaluates the shootings and requests independent investigations.
- Author
- Amnesty International
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Murray's March 10 remarks on immigration-agent shootings
Relevant passage: MARIMAR MARTINEZ, JULIO CESAR SOSA-CELIS and CARLOS JIMENEZ sections
About this source
Official transcript with Murray's case-specific criticisms.
- Author
- Patty Murray
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Raskin and Jayapal demand functional body cameras for ICE agents
Relevant passage: July 30 letter, page 2 paragraph naming Marimar Martinez; requests on pages 2-3 and signatures on page 3.
About this source
The lawmakers' body-camera demand and criticism of DHS shooting accounts.
- Author
- Jamie Raskin and Pramila Jayapal
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
ABC7 reports ICE's response to vehicle-stop guidance
Relevant passage: October 2 article, opening vehicle-stop guidance paragraphs and final emailed statement from an ICE spokesperson.
About this source
ABC7 discusses the Martinez and Villegas Gonzalez shootings in its report on vehicle-stop guidance. An ICE spokesperson tells the outlet by email that the memo changes no vehicle-stop practices. The article displays October 2 at 11:18 p.m. without a timezone.
- Author
- Mark Rivera, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Tom Jones and Luke Barr
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Governor Pritzker calls for accountability for Marimar Martinez on the shooting anniversary
Excerpt
"She deserves true justice and accountability from the federal government."
About this source
Pritzker's official account posted a written statement about Martinez on the anniversary of her shooting. He criticized the shooting and DHS's description of her, and called for federal accountability. The written caption accompanies a video.
- Author
- Governor JB Pritzker
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
WTTW reports Parente's criticism and reconstruction at Martinez's October 5 press conference
Relevant passage: Paragraph beginning 'In what world could you justify that?' and preceding paragraphs about the commissioned reconstruction; October 5, 2026, 6:39 PM.
About this source
WTTW reports the October 5 press conference announcing Martinez's federal lawsuit. Parente criticizes Exum's shooting and alleges that agents gave false accounts of the encounter. The article describes a reconstruction commissioned by Martinez's attorneys and says her local police complaint was assigned to a detective.
- Author
- Matt Masterson
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
AP reports CBP's response to Martinez's lawsuit and Parente's shooting allegations
Relevant passage: Section 'Agent fired into rear of car, attorneys say': Parente's three alleged false statements and CBP's statement in response to the suit; page updated October 5 at 8:46 PM EDT.
About this source
AP reports remarks made at Martinez's October 5 press conference and a CBP statement supplied in response to her lawsuit. CBP said Exum had been placed on administrative leave and described its use-of-force review process. The report does not date the original leave decision. Parente's allegations about the shooting and Exum's statements remain attributed to Martinez's lawyer.
- Author
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Marimar Martinez Sues Feds A Year After Border Patrol Agent Shot Her 5 Times
Relevant passage: October 5, 2026; lead, press-conference photographs and final Martinez quotation
About this source
Block Club's on-scene reporting describes the filed lawsuit and Martinez's press-conference remarks. It quotes her opposition to normalizing the violence and her wish to prevent further victims.
- Author
- Melody Mercado
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Chicago woman shot 5 times by CBP officer files federal lawsuit
Relevant passage: Published October 5, 2026, 5:09 PM EDT; lawsuit lead and paragraph beginning "I'm just glad to see another year"
Excerpt
"I want to spread awareness, because what's happening is not normal. We shouldn't stay here and normalize what's happening."
About this source
NBC reports Martinez's federal lawsuit and quotes her remarks at the October 5 press conference. She describes her recovery and says the violence should not become normal.
- Author
- Daniella Silva
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Marimar Martinez v. United States of America, filed complaint
Relevant passage: Case 1:26-cv-12187, Document 1, filed October 5, 2026; page 1 caption and filing stamp; page 33 relief requested
About this source
Martinez's filed complaint against the United States seeks compensation for injuries from her shooting and subsequent detention. The filing stamp identifies October 5, 2026. Its allegations are Martinez's claims.
- Author
- Marimar Martinez, through Gallagher & Kosner and Cheronis & Parente
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Marimar Martinez to sue federal government over Border Patrol shooting in Chicago
Relevant passage: Section 'What they're saying', Christopher Parente's description of bullet-hole analysis and his quotation about Exum's location.
Excerpt
"He was behind it and shot her through the back"
About this source
FOX 32 reports Christopher Parente's account of an expert reconstruction and plans to file a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit on October 5. The reconstruction described here is the attorney's account, not a judicial finding. The report announces a planned press conference; it does not provide a filed complaint or docket number.
- Author
- FOX 32 Chicago Digital Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Duckworth Meets with Woman Shot Five Times by Trump's DHS, Marimar Martinez, Underscoring Need for Oversight on DHS
Relevant passage: Duckworth quotation in the second paragraph of the release text
Excerpt
"Untrained and highly aggressive agents shot Marimar and continue slandering her name while hiding evidence that could prove they are lying."
About this source
Sen. Tammy Duckworth's press release dated February 3, 2026, issued the day she met Marimar Martinez and Martinez testified at a congressional public forum on DHS use of force.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Hirono presses Noem on DHS statements and use of force
Relevant passage: Paragraphs identifying Marimar Martinez and Hirono's call for DHS guardrails
Excerpt
"The lies that you and this regime spread are creating a culture that fosters abuse of power."
About this source
Official release summarizing Hirono's March 3 questioning of Kristi Noem. It specifically identifies Martinez as one of the people Hirono said DHS falsely labeled before an investigation.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Blumenthal questions Noem about constitutional violations and abuse by DHS agents
Relevant passage: Full transcript, exchange concerning Marimar Martinez
Excerpt
"I don't know why you can't join me in saying it was wrong to shoot Marimar."
About this source
Official transcript of a March 3 Senate Judiciary Committee exchange between Richard Blumenthal and Kristi Noem. The page includes their direct statements about Marimar Martinez's shooting and the limits Noem placed on her answer.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Chicago police confirm Investigative Response Team is investigating Brighton Park shooting
Relevant passage: Full article
Excerpt
"Wednesday the Chicago Police Department confirmed their Investigative Response Team is investigating the Brighton Park shooting."
About this source
CBS News Chicago corroborates CPD IRT's investigation into the Exum shooting and notes State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's office said it can only bring charges after law enforcement completes an investigation.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Chicago police investigating Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez after feds took no action
Relevant passage: Full article
Excerpt
"The investigation into Martinez's Oct. 4 shooting by Border Patrol agent Charles Exum has been assigned to the police department's Investigative Response Team, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation."
About this source
Reports that Chicago Police's Investigative Response Team opened a criminal investigation into the Exum shooting after Martinez's attorney said the FBI and DOJ Civil Rights Division had not acted; includes quoted statements from attorney Christopher Parente and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
- Author
- Jon Seidel, Sophie Sherry, Tom Schuba
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Border Patrol agent appeared to brag about his accuracy after shooting Chicago woman five times, messages in court reveal
Relevant passage: Court testimony section
Excerpt
"I did what I had to do to save my life."
About this source
CNN report on Exum’s federal-court testimony and the messages introduced during the hearing. The quoted statement directly states his claimed justification for firing.
- Author
- Omar Jimenez and Elizabeth Wolfe
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Protester shot in Chicago by Border Patrol agents who claim they were ambushed by convoy
Relevant passage: Paragraphs 2-6
Excerpt
"Our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired."
About this source
Contemporaneous ABC News report quoting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s explanation of why agents fired during the October 4 encounter.
- Author
- Luke Barr, Victoria Arancio, Gaby Vinick, Ivan Pereira and Bill Hutchinson
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Reps. García, Ramírez, Quigley, Jackson, Local Elected Officials and Immigration Advocates Call for Full Accountability for DHS Brutality and Meaningful Immigration Reform
Relevant passage: Quotation attributed to Lawrence Benito
Excerpt
"“Whether it be ... the shooting of Marimar Martinez ... or the murder of Silverio Villegas González, it’s been proven that ICE does NOT keep us safe.”"
About this source
The congressional press release compiles remarks from elected officials and immigration advocates calling for accountability and reform.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Statement on Illinois State Police Investigation into 2025 ICE Shooting
Relevant passage: Statement paragraphs addressing Silverio Villegas González and Marimar Martinez
Excerpt
"“For eight long months, evidence suggesting this shooting was unjustified ... has circulated in the public sphere.”"
About this source
The caucus responds to an Illinois State Police investigation and links the Villegas González and Martinez shootings to a broader pattern it attributes to federal agents.
- Author
- Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys say
Relevant passage: Evidence release, body-camera description and paragraphs on administrative leave
Excerpt
"Much of it contradicts the narrative spread by DHS."
About this source
WTTW report on released agent messages, surveillance photographs and body-camera material. It records the competing interpretation advanced by Martinez’s attorney, notes that Exum’s camera was not activated and quotes CBP’s statement that Exum was placed on administrative leave.
- Author
- Matt Masterson
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Federal complaint charges two individuals with using their vehicles to assault federal agents in Chicago
Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs and dismissal update
Excerpt
"The court granted the government’s motion to dismiss the charges against both defendants."
About this source
Justice Department announcement summarizing the original charges and the government’s account. The page was later updated to record the November 20, 2025 dismissal of the charges against Martinez and Ruiz.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Brighton Park Investigation Brief
Relevant passage: Pages 3-11; determination on page 11
Excerpt
"Agent Charles Exum shot an unarmed civilian without apparent justification."
About this source
Official Illinois Accountability Commission investigation brief based on available body-camera and surveillance material, vehicle photographs, witness interviews, court records and public reporting. It concluded there was reasonable cause for further investigation; it is not a criminal or civil judgment.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Statement of Marimar Martinez to the United States Senate Forum on Immigration Agents’ Use of Force
Relevant passage: Pages 1-4, especially pages 1 and 3
Excerpt
"The Agent swerved into me. The Agent shot me as I drove away from him."
About this source
Martinez’s first-person written testimony describing the collision, shooting, hospitalization, prosecution and dismissal. It supplies her account of the disputed event and is not an independent adjudication.
- Author
- Marimar Martinez
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/border-patrol-charles-exum-shooting-marimar-martinez-justified
The Dispute Index. "Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/cases/border-patrol-charles-exum-shooting-marimar-martinez-justified