Video footage appears to cast doubt on DHS claims about fatal 2025 shooting involving agent

[ad_1] Movies launched by the Texas Division of Public Security seem to forged doubt on the Division of Homeland Safety's account of a deadly agent-involved capturing of U.S. citizen that occurred in South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025.

Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was fatally shot by a Homeland Safety Investigations agent on March 15, 2025. The incident was initially reported by native information shops as an officer-involved capturing. DHS didn't reveal the involvement of its agent till February when media shops reported that the brokers have been concerned.

In a press release given to San Antonio ABC affiliate, DHS mentioned HSI brokers have been serving to South Padre Island Law enforcement officials management site visitors after an unrelated accident on the widespread spring break vacation spot when a driver "deliberately ran over" an agent "leading to him being on the hood of the car."

On this picture from video supplied by the Texas Division of Public Security, legislation enforcement officers encompass Ruben Ray Martinez after he was shot by Homeland Safety Investigations Particular Agent Jack Stevens and pulled from his car at a roadblock in South Padre Island, Texas, on Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Miguel Leal/AP

The assertion went on to say: "Upon witnessing this, one other agent fired defensive photographs to guard himself, his fellow brokers, and most of the people."

DHS mentioned an agent was taken to the hospital with a knee harm after the incident.

In a press release supplied to ABC Information, attorneys for Martinez's mom mentioned the video footage calls the DHS account of the capturing into query.

"These new movies affirm that Ruben's automobile was barely shifting when he was shot," the assertion from attorneys Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm mentioned. "That he was braking, not accelerating. That no one was on the hood of his automobile. That no one was in entrance of his automobile when he was shot. That he was shot at point-blank vary by way of his facet window by an ICE agent who was in no hazard."

The assertion went on to say: "This batch of proof exhibits no justification for Ruben's killing.

In a press release, Todd Lyons, appearing director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, mentioned: "We stand by the grand jury's unanimous choice that discovered no criminality. This incident was investigated from each potential angle by an unbiased physique, and it cleared our officer."

Physique digital camera video Footage from the body-worn digital camera of a South Padre police officer seems to point out Martinez's blue Ford slowly approaching the intersection and shifting ahead when somebody is heard saying, "Preserve going."

Martinez's car slows to a crawl or a potential cease as a gaggle of pedestrians are seen crossing the road. Martinez strikes ahead after the pedestrians move and officers seem to develop into involved and yell, "Cease him" and "Get him out." Three photographs may be heard because the officer with the digital camera runs towards the car.

Martinez's brake lights seemed to be on when he's shot. Because the DPS footage doesn't embody the angle of the agent who shot Martinez, it doesn't present any potential impression between brokers and the car.

"Cease the f------ car somebody," may be heard saying because the car comes to an entire cease.

Ruben Ray Martinez is seen on this undated photograph supplied by his household.

Courtesy household of Ruben Ray Martinez

Brokers are then seen pulling Martinez and his passenger, Joshua Orta, out of the automobile. Paramedics on scene start to render help roughly over a minute after he was pulled from the car.

A toxicology report launched exhibits Martinez has a blood alcohol stage of 0.12% above the authorized restrict of 0.08%.

In his assertion to ABC Information, Lyons, the appearing head of ICE, pointed to an investigative report completed by the Texas Rangers which included evaluation of a number of physique cameras, and which confirmed Martinez holding a bottle of Crown Royal Whiskey and "rolling towards an officers location," Lyons mentioned within the assertion.

Lyons' assertion continued: "Officers yell 'the place are you going' and 'cease him.' At this level, an officer directing site visitors 'was instantly in entrance of the Fusion' and 'solely one-half a automobile size away.'"

Lyons mentioned, "Martinez 'rolled ahead and made an instantaneous left flip.' The agent then 'seems to maneuver as if he have been on the autos hood.'"

The agent's perspective The agent who shot Martinez, recognized in paperwork as Jack Stevens, mentioned he approached the car after an officer yelled to "get him out." Stevens mentioned that when he approached, he observed the scent of marijuana coming from the driving force's facet window, in response to the paperwork.

"The driving force's eyes have been open extensively, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was wanting previous the officers on scene as he didn't adjust to the loud and repeated verbal instructions of a number of legislation enforcement officers. It is a conduct I've noticed in my coaching and expertise as a pre assault indicator and signal of noncompliance because the suspect is wanting within the path of their supposed motion and isn't indicative of compliance," he mentioned.

"This path of motion, if left unmitigated, would, utilizing the car as a weapon, have resulted in quite a few casualties," he wrote.

On this picture from video supplied by the Texas Division of Public Security, Homeland Safety Investigations Particular Agent Jack Stevens pulls Ruben Ray Martinez from his car after capturing Martinez at a roadblock in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025.

Miguel Leal/AP

Stevens mentioned he was struck and knocked backwards by the driving force's-side entrance pillar and facet mirror, in response to the paperwork. He mentioned he tried to backpedal to keep away from being run over and was "nonetheless involved with the car because the car struck" one other agent.

Stevens mentioned current incidents the place autos had been used as a weapon, just like the New Yr's Day assault in New Orleans earlier within the yr have been "recent on my thoughts," in response to the paperwork.

"Upon observing the car strike SA [Hector] Sosa inflicting him to fall onto the hood of the car and driving by way of the scene, with SA Sosa clinging to the car's hood, I discharged my service issued handgun firing by way of the open driver's facet window putting the driving force a number of occasions. This motion stopped the menace and gained compliance from the driving force who stopped the car and positioned it into park," he wrote.

A grand jury determined to not challenge an indictment within the case, south Texas ABC affiliate KRGV reported.

Passenger speaks with investigators In a recording of an interview that was additionally launched, the passenger, Joshua Orta, instructed investigators that after they approached the scene of the accident, an officer noticed a container of alcohol within the car however instructed him to maintain going ahead and switch to the left, however Martinez continued straight towards the opposite officers, Orta mentioned.

"That is when he, , panicked and turned the wheel, and he did not flooring the fuel however he sort of went just a little bit and I suppose they thought he was like attempting to run the cop over or one thing," Orta mentioned within the interview.

"I noticed the officer, sort of get on the hood. Like he did not hit him, however like he ... caught his ft," he mentioned.

Orta mentioned Martinez didn't intend to run over the brokers.

"He did not know what to do ... he positively did not wish to go to jail. However so far as, like, working over an officer ... he would not try this," he mentioned.