Grand Jury Dismisses Indictments in Texas Shooting Case
A grand jury announced on Wednesday that it has dismissed the indictments related to a shooting incident last year, where federal immigration agents were implicated in the death of Ruben Ray Martinez during a traffic encounter in Texas.
The shooting, which took place on March 15, 2025, had remained under wraps until recent media coverage. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not disclose details until last week, revealing that agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were involved. HSI operates under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office stated that the grand jury opted not to pursue an indictment after evaluating the case, but additional specifics were not provided.
In an earlier statement, DHS claimed that Martinez, aged 23, “intentionally ran over” an HSI special agent, prompting another agent to open fire as a means of self-defense and to protect others. This incident marks one of at least six fatal shootings involving federal officers during the nationwide immigration enforcement campaign initiated in President Trump’s second term.
Attorneys representing Martinez’s family expressed skepticism regarding the DHS narrative and indicated they were unaware of the evidence or witness accounts presented to the grand jury, as those proceedings are confidential.
They are urging the Texas Department of Public Safety to disclose the investigation results, allowing the family to evaluate the accuracy of the claims made by ICE and understand the circumstances surrounding Martinez’s death.
A key witness, Joshua Orta, who was in the vehicle with Martinez, had reportedly stated in a draft affidavit that Martinez did not hit any officers and that the car was moving at a slow pace. Notably, Orta, who passed away in a recent car accident, indicated that the agent fired into the vehicle without warning or commands.
Martinez’s family, who consider themselves proud Americans and supporters of law enforcement, just want fairness and transparency. They believe that there are genuinely honest police officers but are seeking respectful treatment regarding the tragic loss of their loved one.
Martinez and Orta were reportedly en route to South Padre Island for spring break when the incident occurred. While local news did cover Martinez’s death, the involvement of HSI agents was not disclosed at that time.
The incident report from ICE details an officer’s perspective of the harsh encounter, claiming that the driver, initially unresponsive, eventually halted but was surrounded by officers who instructed them to exit the vehicle.
According to the report, the driver then accelerated, colliding with an HSI agent, which led to an agent discharging multiple rounds through the driver’s side window.
This account came into question by Orta’s affidavit, which stated that they were initially told to leave and that Martinez’s maneuver was slow, never hitting the officers. It further describes how officers drew their weapons and issued commands as Martinez attempted to respond.
At the moment of the shooting, Orta recalled hearing Martinez express remorse before losing consciousness. Martinez’s mother stated last week that her son had been shot three times during the incident.
