**Newly Obtained Video Challenges Official Account of Ruben Ray Martinez’s Fatal Shooting**
CBS News has obtained body camera footage of the March 2025 fatal shooting of American citizen Ruben Ray Martinez, which appears to contradict federal officials’ claims regarding the incident. According to ICE, Martinez was shot because he “accelerated” and “intentionally ran over” an agent with his vehicle during the encounter in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025. However, the newly released video suggests otherwise.
Martinez, 23 at the time, was killed in the incident, which was initially reported by local news outlets. It was not until February 2026, nearly 11 months later, that ICE confirmed that one of its agents had fatally shot him. An internal ICE report, made public last month by a nonprofit watchdog group, stated that Martinez “accelerated forward” and struck an agent. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) further claimed in a statement that an ICE agent fired “defensive shots” after Martinez “intentionally ran over” another agent.
### Video Footage Tells a Different Story
The body camera footage, which had not been previously reported, shows Martinez’s vehicle—a blue Ford Fusion—either stationary or moving at a very slow speed at the time he was shot. The brake lights are visible when gunshots are heard. Martinez was shot three times and then forcibly removed from the vehicle by an ICE agent, who threw him to the ground face down before handcuffing him.
Medical assistance was not provided immediately after Martinez was removed from the vehicle. Emergency responders only began rendering aid approximately two minutes after the shots were fired.
CBS News sought comment from DHS regarding the footage but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
### Family Speaks Out: Calls for Transparency and Reform
In her first television interview since her son’s death, Rachel Reyes expressed her ongoing struggle to find closure. She highlighted the lack of transparency, noting she had not received any videos or reports about the incident nearly a year later.
Reyes called on investigators to be open about the case and urged federal officials to reform immigration enforcement methods. She said:
> “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.”
Reyes also noted that she had voted for Trump in 2024.
### Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigated the shooting. However, a grand jury declined to return criminal indictments last month. A DPS spokesperson told CBS News the agency planned to release its investigative records soon.
Contradicting DHS’s official account, Joshua Orta—Martinez’s best friend and the passenger during the shooting—stated in a draft declaration that Martinez “did not hit anyone” and was complying with officers’ commands. Tragically, Orta died last month in an unrelated car crash before signing his declaration.
### Details from the Body Camera Footage
The video originates from a South Padre Island police officer’s body camera. ICE maintains that its Homeland Security Investigations agents were assisting local police with traffic control following a separate car accident.
Approximately 21 minutes into the footage, Martinez’s vehicle approaches a densely staffed law enforcement area. A voice is heard instructing to “keep going,” and the vehicle begins to move forward but then stops for pedestrians.
Officers become agitated, with one shouting “stop him” multiple times, followed by “get him out.” They rush toward Martinez’s car, including the officer wearing the body camera.
Moments later, gunshots ring out. During and before the shooting, Martinez’s vehicle appears to be barely moving, if at all, with brake lights clearly on. The camera angle shows the rear of the car, so what occurred near the driver’s side isn’t visible.
After the shots, the vehicle moves slowly before coming to a complete stop. Martinez and Orta are ordered to exit the vehicle. The video shows an ICE agent forcibly removing Martinez and throwing him face down to the ground before cuffing him, but no immediate medical care is provided. Orta is also taken into custody.
At around the 23-minute mark, emergency responders arrive and begin assessing Martinez, roughly two minutes after he was shot three times.
### Legal Team Highlights Discrepancies
In a statement, lawyers Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm, who represent Reyes, said the footage raises serious doubts about the official narratives:
> “These new videos confirm that Ruben’s car was barely moving when he was shot. That he was braking, not accelerating. That nobody was on the hood of his car. That nobody was in front of his car when he was shot. That he was shot at point-blank range through his side window by an ICE agent who was in no danger.”
The body camera also recorded an officer briefing the South Padre Island police chief roughly 30 minutes after the incident. The officer claimed Martinez “stepped on it” and drove “on top of the other agents in front” prior to being shot, without mentioning any officers injured.
### Background: Martinez’s Final Hours
Orta said the two friends had gone to South Padre Island to celebrate Martinez’s birthday, spending the evening with friends and attending social gatherings with food and drinks.
A toxicology report taken after Martinez’s death found alcohol and marijuana in his system. Stam emphasized that Martinez was never stopped for public intoxication or driving under the influence. He further noted:
> “It’s important to bear in mind that when Ruben lost his life, his car was in park, and right after those three bullets came through the window and went into his chest from that ICE officer, Mr. Orta’s statement said that he said, ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ as his last words. This was not someone who posed a threat.”
The preliminary briefing video also suggests Martinez admitted to possessing alcohol in his vehicle.
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As more details and records emerge, the Ruben Ray Martinez case continues to draw attention to concerns about law enforcement transparency and use of force in immigration enforcement operations. CBS News will continue to follow developments and provide updates.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bodycam-video-ice-fatal-shooting-ruben-ray-martinez-texas/