Immigration agents killed third US citizen nearly a year before Minnesota shootings

The 23-year-old was killed on March 15, 2025, after his vehicle approached a traffic accident scene where federal agents were helping direct vehicles.

More than 160 pieces of evidence connected to Mr Martinez's death were made public by the Texas Department of Public Safety following requests from multiple news organisations.

His death occurred around 10 months before the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Prett in Minnesota.

Their deaths and the following protests led to the removal of Kristi Noem and Gregory Bovino from overseeing immigration enforcement in the state. Ms Noem was sacked from her role as Homeland Security Secretary last week.

The Department of Homeland Security had maintained that Mr Martinez "intentionally ran over" an agent, prompting another officer to discharge "defensive shots".

Agent Jack Stevens, who fired the three fatal shots, provided a written statement to Texas Rangers approximately two months after the incident in which he justified his actions as necessary to prevent mass casualties.

He said Mr Martinez had "accelerated forward" and struck his colleague, Special Agent Hector Sosa, who ended up on the vehicle's bonnet.

Agent Stevens claimed events at the time, including the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, where a man drove into crowds, were "still fresh on his mind".

"The driver's eyes were open widely, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was looking past the officers on scene," he stated, describing this as "a pre-attack indicator" based on his training.

He maintained "no available less-than-lethal options would have been effective to stop the threat".

A Texas grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against Agent Stevens last week after prosecutors presented evidence in the case.

However, attorneys representing Mr Martinez's family say that newly released bodycam footage "calls Ice's official account of a fatal shooting into question".

Multiple angles captured by local police officers' body-worn cameras show the 23-year-old’s blue Ford Fusion make its way through the traffic stop.

He appeared to ignore the blocked roads and the orders from the agents. However, the footage does not show the moment of impact with an officer.

Joshua Orta, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, told investigators: "He didn't know what to do, like he definitely didn't want to go to jail... But as far as, like, running over an officer in danger, he wouldn't do that."

Rachel Reyes, Mr Martinez's mother, revealed she had voted for Donald Trump in 2024 and does not hold the president responsible for her son's death.

"I don't blame President Trump for the death of my son, 'cause he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. But I do think that something needs to be changed in that department as far as the pattern of violence or abuse and impunity," she told CBS.

Ms Reyes said she had not received any footage, evidence or reports relating to her son's killing until the public release on Friday.

She disputed the DHS characterisation agents fired "defensive shots" after Martinez "intentionally" struck an officer.

"He was not a violent person. He was not aggressive," she said. "I'm just a mother in doubt, because I know my son and I know he's not a threat."

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