The Dispute Index

Christopher Parente

Christopher Parente is a Chicago trial lawyer and partner at Cheronis & Parente LLC whose practice includes white collar criminal defense and internal investigations. He previously was a federal prosecutor in Chicago and Miami and practiced commercial litigation at Jenner & Block. He earned a history degree at the University of Scranton in 2001 and a law degree at Notre Dame, where he was a Law Review editor.

Also known as Chris ParenteWebsite (opens in a new tab)
LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

What we have documented

We have documented 4 statements by Christopher Parente, in 1 case. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

Case updates

Marimar Martinez is suing over the Exum shooting. What next?

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Statements by Christopher Parente

Christopher Parente

Role at the time: Attorney representing Marimar Martinez

Condemned

Statement summary

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.

“In what world could you justify that?”
Open source (opens in a new tab)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.
Why we used 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.

Read statementFull case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Christopher Parente

Role at the time: Attorney for Marimar Martinez, describing an expert reconstruction to FOX 32 Chicago

Challenged the characterization

Statement summary

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.

“He was behind it and shot her through the back”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)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 we used 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.

Read statementFull case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Christopher Parente

Role at the time: Attorney representing Marimar Martinez

Condemned

Statement summary

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 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.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Chicago police investigating Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez after feds took no action · Chicago Sun-TimesFull article
Why we used 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.

Read statementFull case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Christopher Parente

Role at the time: Attorney for Marimar Martinez

Challenged the characterization

Statement summary

Parente said newly released evidence contradicted DHS’s account and showed Martinez was wrongly portrayed as the aggressor.

“They picked the wrong victim to mess with.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)New evidence contradicts Border Patrol agent’s claims in shooting of Chicago woman, attorneys sayEvidence release, body-camera description and paragraphs on administrative leave
Why we used this label

He contests the government’s characterization of Martinez and the factual basis offered to justify the shooting.

Read statementFull case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

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