Video of the March 2025 deadly capturing of American citizen Ruben Ray Martinez obtained by CBS Information seems to contradict claims by federal officers that Martinez was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent as a result of he “accelerated” and “deliberately ran over” one other agent along with his automotive.
The killing of Martinez, who was 23 on the time, in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025, was reported by native information retailers on the time. However it was not till February of this 12 months, almost 11 months later, that ICE confirmed certainly one of its brokers had fatally shot Martinez.
In an inner report launched by a nonprofit watchdog group final month, ICE stated Martinez “accelerated ahead” and struck an agent in the course of the March 2025 incident. The Division of Homeland Safety claimed in an announcement that an ICE agent had fired “defensive photographs” into Martinez’s automobile after Martinez “deliberately ran over” one other agent.
However physique digital camera video, which has not been beforehand reported, reveals that Martinez’s automobile, a blue Ford Fusion, was stationary or going at a really low fee of pace when he was fatally shot. When gunshots are heard within the video, the brake lights of Martinez’ automobile seem like on.
South Padre Island Police Division
After he is shot 3 times, Martinez is seen being pulled from his automobile, thrown to the bottom by an ICE agent, face down, after which handcuffed. Personnel on the scene usually are not seen within the video offering medical care till after he’s handcuffed.
CBS Information reached out to representatives for DHS searching for touch upon the footage.
The Texas Division of Public Security investigated Martinez’s deadly capturing, although a grand jury final month declined to return prison indictments within the case.
DHS’ official model of occasions had already been beforehand known as into query by any person on the scene. Joshua Orta, Martinez’s greatest good friend and a passenger within the automobile in the course of the capturing, stated in a draft declaration that his good friend “didn’t hit anybody” and that he was making an attempt to adjust to instructions from officers. Orta died in a separate automotive crash final month, earlier than he may signal that declaration.
Texas DPS launched dozens of data associated to the investigation late Friday, together with a video of an interview that members of the Texas Rangers carried out with Orta. Throughout the police interview, Orta stated he and Martinez had just a few drinks earlier within the night, and had been driving from Whataburger to a good friend’s condominium once they encountered an space with heavy police presence.
At one level, a police officer informed Martinez to cease the automotive, and he appeared to get “jittery” and “panicked,” in response to Orta. He stated that “out of response” Martinez “type of pushed the gasoline,” however “he did not flooring it, it was barely shifting.” Orta stated Martinez turned the wheel left and the automotive moved barely. An officer “acquired on the hood a bit of bit” after his toes might have gotten caught, although he stated he did not suppose Martinez hit the officer. After that, Orta heard an officer yell “cease” after which heard gunshots.
Requested why Martinez did not cease the automotive, Orta stated he thought Martinez was “panicky” and “did not know what to do.” He instructed at one level that Martinez might have been nervous about an open container within the automotive. Orta additionally stated at one other level in the course of the interview he was involved that Martinez would get cited for driving whereas intoxicated.
Rachel Reyes by way of AP 
“He positively did not wish to go to jail, however so far as operating over an officer and endangering, he would not try this,” Orta informed the 2 interrogators.
In her first tv interview since her son’s demise, Rachel Reyes informed CBS Information she has struggled to search out “closure” as a result of she had not obtained any movies or experiences about Martinez’s killing almost a 12 months after. She known as on investigators to be clear and for federal officers to reform how immigration brokers conduct their duties.
“I do not blame President Trump for the demise of my son, ‘trigger he wasn’t the one who pulled the set off,” Reyes stated, after noting she voted for Mr. Trump in 2024. “However I do suppose that one thing must be modified in that division so far as the sample of violence or abuse and impunity.”
What occurred within the physique digital camera video?
The newly obtained video in query stems from a physique digital camera worn by a South Padre Island police officer. ICE has stated the federal Homeland Safety Investigations brokers concerned in Martinez’s capturing had been serving to native cops management site visitors after a automotive accident.
Practically 21 minutes into the video, Martinez’s automobile is seen approaching an space with a heavy presence of native, state and federal regulation enforcement officers. Somebody might be heard saying “hold going.” Martinez’s automotive is seen shifting ahead. The automobile stops for a bunch of pedestrians.
At one level, some officers seem to grow to be involved, with one yelling “cease him” a number of occasions, adopted by “get him out.” The officers rush in the direction of Martinez’s automobile, together with the officer with a physique digital camera.
Moments later, three gunshots are heard. Earlier than and in the course of the second these photographs ring out, Martinez’s automobile seems to be shifting very slowly, if in any respect, and the brake lights might be seen.
South Padre Island Police Division 
The video confirmed the rear of Martinez’s automotive when the photographs had been fired, so any exercise close to the motive force was not seen when he was shot.
After the ICE agent shot Martinez, the automobile is seen shifting slowly. One officer is heard saying “cease the f—ing automobile.” Then, the automotive comes to a whole cease. The occupants of the automobile, Martinez and Orta, are directed to exit the automobile.
The video captures an ICE agent eradicating Martinez from the automotive and throwing him to the bottom. Face down, he is later handcuffed. The officers who restrained him usually are not seen offering medical care instantly after he is faraway from the automobile. The video additionally reveals Orta being taken into custody.
South Padre Island Police Division 
At round minute 23, emergency responders are seen rendering care and checking Martinez’s physique for exit wounds. He was shot 3 times roughly two minutes earlier.
In an announcement, Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm, the attorneys representing Reyes, stated the footage raises additional questions concerning the official account of the March 2025 capturing.
“These new movies verify that Ruben’s automotive was barely shifting when he was shot. That he was braking, not accelerating. That no one was on the hood of his automotive. That no one was in entrance of his automotive when he was shot. That he was shot at point-blank vary by means of his aspect window by an ICE agent who was in no hazard,” Stam and Stamm stated.
The physique digital camera additionally captured what seems to be an officer offering a preliminary briefing to the South Padre Island police chief on the scene a couple of half hour after the incident. In that change, the officer claims Martinez “stepped on it” and was “on prime of the opposite brokers in entrance” earlier than being shot. He doesn’t point out any officers being injured.
Orta stated he and Martinez went to South Padre Island to have a good time Martinez’s birthday, saying they frolicked with buddies and had meals and drinks the evening of the capturing. A toxicology display taken after Martinez’s demise detected alcohol and marijuana in his system.
Requested about that display in a latest interview, Stam, the household’s lawyer, stated Martinez “was by no means stopped on suspicion of public intoxication or driving beneath the affect or something of that nature.”
“It is essential to keep in mind that when Ruben misplaced his life, his automotive was in park, and proper after these three bullets got here by means of the window and went into his chest from that ICE officer, Mr. Orta’s assertion, stated that he stated, ‘I am sorry, sir,’ as his final phrases,” Stam added. “This was not somebody who posed a risk.”
Within the preliminary briefing caught on physique digital camera footage, the South Padre Island officer alleges Martinez admitted to having alcohol in his automobile.
