Was HSI Special Agent Jack Stevens justified in fatally shooting Ruben Ray Martinez?
HSI agent Jack Stevens fatally shot U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez on South Padre Island in March 2025, saying Martinez's car struck a fellow agent. A grand jury declined to indict him, but body-camera footage shows the car moving very slowly, leaving the shooting disputed.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The fixed reference point for classification in this case is whether Stevens's decision to fire at Martinez was justified, not the separate, later-arising questions of whether DHS adequately disclosed the incident or whether the grand jury process was adequate. Stevens's own written statement to investigators says he saw Martinez's car strike Sosa and knock him onto the hood, and that he feared for Sosa's life, his own, other officers' and nearby pedestrians', citing recent vehicle-ramming attacks as being on his mind. Sosa told investigators the car struck his legs. Against that, the Texas Rangers' own report describes the car as "slowly driving forward," and body-camera footage reviewed by multiple outlets shows the car moving very slowly or not at all with its brake lights on — but the footage does not show the vehicle's front or conclusively establish whether it struck Sosa, leaving that pivotal factual question unresolved. Joshua Orta, the only other occupant of the car, told investigators and reporters before his own death that the car was "just crawling" and that Martinez did not hit anyone; he died in an unrelated car crash in San Antonio in late February 2026, days before the grand jury's decision. A Cameron County grand jury declined to indict Stevens on February 25, 2026, and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has said the agency stands by that finding. Reps. Greg Casar and Sylvia Garcia's March 24, 2026 letter to DHS's inspector general requests an investigation into the shooting and alleges DHS concealed and misrepresented its circumstances for nearly a year; that letter concerns disclosure and investigative process and is tracked here as background rather than as a direct evaluation of whether the shooting itself was justified.
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: March 15, 2025 to March 24, 2026
March 2025
1 event
Stevens fatally shoots Martinez on South Padre Island
Incident
HSI Special Agent Jack Stevens fired three shots through the driver-side window of Ruben Ray Martinez's car during a traffic stop on South Padre Island. Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, later died. Stevens said he fired after the car struck fellow agent Hector Sosa.
[01]Newsweek: ICE agent who fatally shot Ruben Ray Martinez identified, with his written statement
Source excerpt
Upon observing the vehicle strike SA Sosa causing him to fall onto the hood of the vehicle and driving through the scene, with SA Sosa clinging to the vehicle's hood, I discharged my service issued handgun firing through the open driver's side window striking the driver multiple times.
Newsweek quotes Stevens's own written statement to investigators, in which he says he saw the car strike Sosa and knock him onto the hood before firing, and says he feared for the safety of Sosa, himself, other officers and pedestrians, noting recent vehicle-ramming attacks were on his mind.
Newsweek: ICE agent who fatally shot Ruben Ray Martinez identified, with his written statementParagraphs quoting Stevens's written statement to investigators.[02]Texas Tribune: examination of released records on the South Padre Island shooting
Source excerpt
slowly driving forward
The Texas Tribune's examination of released investigative records, including the Texas Rangers' report, which describes Martinez's car as slowly driving forward when he was shot, and confirms Martinez was a U.S. citizen.
Texas Tribune: examination of released records on the South Padre Island shootingParagraphs describing the Texas Rangers' report and its characterization of the vehicle's movement.
346 days between recorded events
February 2026
2 events
Sole witness Joshua Orta dies in an unrelated car crash
Joshua Orta, the passenger in Martinez's car and the only other witness to the shooting, died in a car crash in San Antonio, days before the grand jury's decision. He had told investigators and reporters that the car was "just crawling" and that Martinez did not hit anyone.
[03]AP: Key witness who disputed ICE's account of the Martinez shooting dies in car crash
Source excerpt
He also told us unequivocally that Ruben did not hit anyone.
The Associated Press reports that Joshua Orta, the passenger in Martinez's car and sole surviving witness, said their vehicle was "just crawling as we were trying to turn around" and that Martinez did not hit anyone, and that Orta died in a car crash in San Antonio in late February 2026, days before the grand jury's decision. Attorney Stamm, representing Martinez's family, is quoted vouching for Orta's account.
AP: Key witness who disputed ICE's account of the Martinez shooting dies in car crashParagraphs quoting Orta's account and the Martinez family attorney, Stamm.Cameron County grand jury declines to indict Stevens
A Cameron County grand jury declined to indict Stevens in Martinez's death, finding no probable cause for an indictment.
[04]Texas Tribune: no indictment in fatal 2025 Texas shooting involving ICE
Source excerpt
grand jury won't indict
The Texas Tribune reports that a Cameron County grand jury declined to indict the agent who shot Martinez, on February 25, 2026.
Texas Tribune: no indictment in fatal 2025 Texas shooting involving ICEParagraphs reporting the Cameron County grand jury's decision not to indict.
March 2026
2 events
Investigative records and body-camera footage are released
Source release
Records including the Texas Rangers' report and body-camera footage were released, describing the car as "slowly driving forward" and showing it moving very slowly or not at all with its brake lights on, though not showing the vehicle's front or whether it struck Sosa. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the agency stands by the grand jury's finding.
[02]Texas Tribune: examination of released records on the South Padre Island shooting
Source excerpt
slowly driving forward
The Texas Tribune's examination of released investigative records, including the Texas Rangers' report, which describes Martinez's car as slowly driving forward when he was shot, and confirms Martinez was a U.S. citizen.
Texas Tribune: examination of released records on the South Padre Island shootingParagraphs describing the Texas Rangers' report and its characterization of the vehicle's movement.[05]CBS News: Bodycam video contradicts ICE claims in fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez
Source excerpt
We stand by the grand jury's unanimous decision that found no criminality.
CBS News reports that released body-camera footage shows Martinez's car moving very slowly, if at all, with brake lights visible before and during the shooting, but that the footage does not show the front of the vehicle or whether it struck Sosa. It quotes acting ICE Director Todd Lyons standing by the grand jury's decision.
CBS News: Bodycam video contradicts ICE claims in fatal shooting of Ruben Ray MartinezParagraphs describing the body-camera footage and quoting acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.Reps. Casar and Garcia ask DHS's inspector general to investigate
Reaction
Reps. Greg Casar and Sylvia Garcia sent a letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari requesting an investigation into Martinez's death, alleging DHS concealed and misrepresented the circumstances of the shooting for nearly a year.
[06]Reps. Casar and Garcia letter to DHS Inspector General Cuffari on the Martinez death
Source excerpt
We write to request you investigate the death of Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Reps. Greg Casar and Sylvia Garcia's March 24, 2026 letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, requesting an investigation into the Martinez shooting and alleging DHS concealed and misrepresented the circumstances of the shooting for nearly a year.
Reps. Casar and Garcia letter to DHS Inspector General Cuffari on the Martinez deathFull text of the letter.
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 3. Dates: March 15, 2025 to March 7, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
1 response on this page
Joshua Orta "He also told us unequivocally that Ruben did not hit anyone."
Open source (opens in a new tab)AP: Key witness who disputed ICE's account of the Martinez shooting dies in car crashParagraphs quoting Orta's account and the Martinez family attorney, Stamm.CondemnedCase context: Was HSI Special Agent Jack Stevens justified in fatally shooting Ruben Ray Martinez?
Why this label?
The case's fixed reference point is whether Stevens's use of force was justified. Orta's account directly disputes the key factual premise Stevens gave for firing — that the car struck Sosa — which condemns the shooting as unjustified rather than merely disputing a characterization of it.
This label describes the statement’s response within the context above.
Read context and background
Joshua Orta, the passenger and sole surviving witness, told investigators and the Martinez family's attorney that their car was "just crawling" as they tried to turn around and that Martinez did not hit anyone, contradicting the account that the shooting was a response to the car striking Agent Sosa.
Role at the time: Passenger in Martinez's car and sole surviving witness, in statements to investigators and reporters before his death
Before the statement
Orta's account was relayed publicly by the Martinez family's attorney, Stamm, who said Orta confirmed the car was barely moving.
After the statement
Orta died in an unrelated car crash in San Antonio days after these statements were reported.
AP: Key witness who disputed ICE's account of the Martinez shooting dies in car crashParagraphs quoting Orta's account and the Martinez family attorney, Stamm.
Sources
(6)
Reporting
Texas Tribune: examination of released records on the South Padre Island shooting
Relevant passage: Paragraphs describing the Texas Rangers' report and its characterization of the vehicle's movement.
Excerpt
"slowly driving forward"
About this source
The Texas Tribune's examination of released investigative records, including the Texas Rangers' report, which describes Martinez's car as slowly driving forward when he was shot, and confirms Martinez was a U.S. citizen.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Reps. Casar and Garcia letter to DHS Inspector General Cuffari on the Martinez death
Relevant passage: Full text of the letter.
Excerpt
"We write to request you investigate the death of Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
About this source
Reps. Greg Casar and Sylvia Garcia's March 24, 2026 letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, requesting an investigation into the Martinez shooting and alleging DHS concealed and misrepresented the circumstances of the shooting for nearly a year.
- Author
- Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Sylvia Garcia
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Texas Tribune: no indictment in fatal 2025 Texas shooting involving ICE
Relevant passage: Paragraphs reporting the Cameron County grand jury's decision not to indict.
Excerpt
"grand jury won't indict"
About this source
The Texas Tribune reports that a Cameron County grand jury declined to indict the agent who shot Martinez, on February 25, 2026.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
AP: Key witness who disputed ICE's account of the Martinez shooting dies in car crash
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Orta's account and the Martinez family attorney, Stamm.
Excerpt
"He also told us unequivocally that Ruben did not hit anyone."
About this source
The Associated Press reports that Joshua Orta, the passenger in Martinez's car and sole surviving witness, said their vehicle was "just crawling as we were trying to turn around" and that Martinez did not hit anyone, and that Orta died in a car crash in San Antonio in late February 2026, days before the grand jury's decision. Attorney Stamm, representing Martinez's family, is quoted vouching for Orta's account.
- Author
- Michael Biesecker, Jesse Bedayn (AP)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
CBS News: Bodycam video contradicts ICE claims in fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez
Relevant passage: Paragraphs describing the body-camera footage and quoting acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
Excerpt
"We stand by the grand jury's unanimous decision that found no criminality."
About this source
CBS News reports that released body-camera footage shows Martinez's car moving very slowly, if at all, with brake lights visible before and during the shooting, but that the footage does not show the front of the vehicle or whether it struck Sosa. It quotes acting ICE Director Todd Lyons standing by the grand jury's decision.
- Author
- Camilo Montoya-Galvez, Jared Eggleston, Brad Hodges, Joe Walsh
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Newsweek: ICE agent who fatally shot Ruben Ray Martinez identified, with his written statement
Relevant passage: Paragraphs quoting Stevens's written statement to investigators.
Excerpt
"Upon observing the vehicle strike SA Sosa causing him to fall onto the hood of the vehicle and driving through the scene, with SA Sosa clinging to the vehicle's hood, I discharged my service issued handgun firing through the open driver's side window striking the driver multiple times."
About this source
Newsweek quotes Stevens's own written statement to investigators, in which he says he saw the car strike Sosa and knock him onto the hood before firing, and says he feared for the safety of Sosa, himself, other officers and pedestrians, noting recent vehicle-ramming attacks were on his mind.
- Author
- Billal Rahman, Dan Gooding
- Published
- Accessed