"Federal prosecutors on Thursday moved to drop criminal charges against Marimar Martinez, a woman who was shot multiple times by a US Border Patrol agent last month in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood. As reported by local news station WTTW, prosecutors filed a one-page motion asking the court to dismiss the indictment against both Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, who had been accused of assaulting a federal immigration officer by intentionally ramming their vehicle into the officer's car."
"Prosecutors said that the Border Patrol agent who shot Martinez had been acting in self-defense, and that he had only opened fire after Martinez's car collided with his vehicle. However, recently uncovered text messages showed the Border Patrol agent apparently bragging about shooting Martinez, as he boasted that he "fired five rounds and she had seven holes" in a message sent to fellow agents. An attorney representing Martinez claimed last month that he had seen body camera footage that directly undermined the US Department of Homeland Security's claims about how the shooting unfolded."
"Observers point out this isn't the first time prosecutors have dropped charges against protesters in recent months. Federal law enforcement agents are confronted by community members and activists for shooting a woman in the Brighton Park neighborhood on October 4, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois. Scott Olson / Getty Images Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news - make a quick donation to Truthout today!"
Federal prosecutors filed a one-page motion to dismiss the indictment against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz. Martinez was shot multiple times by a US Border Patrol agent during operations in Brighton Park on October 4, 2025. Prosecutors had alleged Martinez and Ruiz were part of a group that trailed immigration vehicles and accused them of ramming an officer's car. Officials claimed the agent acted in self-defense and fired after a collision. Newly surfaced text messages show the agent bragging about the shooting, and Martinez's attorney says body camera footage contradicts Department of Homeland Security accounts. The US attorneys offered no explanation for dropping the case.
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