By JESSE BEDAYN and MICHAEL BIESECKER
A grand jury on Wednesday rejected indictments over the deadly taking pictures final yr of a U.S. citizen by a federal immigration agent throughout a visitors encounter in Texas, prosecutors mentioned.
The taking pictures of Ruben Ray Martinez on March 15, 2025, by a Homeland Safety Investigations agent wasn’t publicly disclosed by the Division of Homeland Safety till The Related Press and different media retailers reported it final week.
The Cameron County District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned in a press release {that a} grand jury declined handy up indictments after being introduced the case. The workplace didn’t present extra particulars.
DHS has alleged that Martinez “deliberately ran over a Homeland Safety Investigation particular agent,” inflicting one other agent to fireside “defensive pictures to guard himself, his fellow brokers, and most people.”
The taking pictures would mark the earliest of no less than six lethal shootings by federal officers since a nationwide immigration crackdown was launched in President Donald Trump’s second time period.
A passenger who was within the automobile with Martinez, Joshua Orta, had disputed DHS’ account in a draft affidavit ready final yr, in keeping with attorneys for Martinez’s household. Orta, a key witness to the encounter, died in a automobile crash final weekend.
Martinez and Orta have been on a visit on South Padre Island in Texas after they neared native and federal officers directing visitors round a automobile accident at a busy intersection, in keeping with the draft affidavit.
In a draft affidavit, Orta reportedly mentioned Martinez didn’t hit an officer along with his car, that their automobile was “simply crawling” and {that a} federal agent fired into the motive force’s facet window with out “giving any warning, instructions, or alternative to conform.
Attorneys for Martinez’s household didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
