Bodycam Video Contradicts Official Narrative in Border Patrol Shooting of Chicago Teacher
Newly released body camera footage has revealed disturbing details about the October incident where federal immigration agents shot Chicago teacher Marimar Martinez five times. The video, released by a judge on Wednesday after a months-long court battle, shows Border Patrol agents stating "it's time to get aggressive" moments before swerving their patrol car into Martinez's vehicle and opening fire.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges
According to the footage from one of the three Border Patrol agents involved, two agents already had their guns drawn while driving through Chicago's South Side. Martinez, driving nearby, began honking her horn to alert the community to Border Patrol's presence, with another vehicle following suit behind the agents.
"Do something, bitch," one agent is heard saying in the recording, followed by another agent declaring, "It's time to get aggressive and get the fuck out." This contradicts the government's initial claim that Martinez rammed Border Patrol agents with her vehicle, leading to agent Charles Exum shooting her five times in what DHS previously characterized as self-defense.
Video Shows Different Sequence of Events
The bodycam footage presents a different sequence of events than what Border Patrol originally reported. Rather than Martinez initiating contact, the video shows agent Exum turning his steering wheel sharply left into Martinez's car before immediately exiting the vehicle and firing five gunshots. An agent is heard saying, "We're gonna make contact and we're boxed in," indicating intent to collide with Martinez's vehicle.
Despite surviving the shooting, Martinez faced serious charges from the Department of Homeland Security, which labeled her a domestic terrorist based on the initial false narrative. DHS has since dropped the criminal case against the 30-year-old Montessori teacher but has not retracted its misleading statements about the U.S. citizen.
Celebration and Investigation
Text messages released alongside the bodycam video reveal that the agents and their supervisors, including former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, celebrated the shooting. Meanwhile, agent Exum has been placed on administrative leave while Border Patrol investigates the use-of-force incident.
Martinez and her lawyer, Chris Parente, are now pursuing a complaint against DHS under the Federal Tort Claims Act, marking the first step toward filing a civil lawsuit for damages from the shooting. The Chicago resident recently testified before Congress about immigration agents using force against the public.
Broader Pattern Alleged
"It's the playbook," Parente told CNN regarding the incident. "What do you think the next guys are gonna do? They want to be the shooters." The lawyer connected Martinez's case to other incidents involving Border Patrol, suggesting a pattern of behavior where agents prioritize aggressive tactics over proper procedure.
Parente further explained, "The reason they're not helping Ms. [Renee] Good while she's bleeding out on the streets of Minneapolis is because they're checking their phones to see if Bovino has emailed them offering them something. It's disgusting and it will not change until the American people say, 'Enough is enough, and we want accountability from our elected officials.'"
Martinez continues to advocate for transparency and accountability, with Parente noting, "Marimar is gonna continue to fight because she's one of the few people who survived these bullets. Unfortunately, these guys are excellent marksmen and they've been able to kill Ms. Good, they've been able to kill Mr. [Alex] Pretti, they killed Silverio Gonzalez here in Chicago."
