Texas Grand Jury Declines Indictments in Fatal Shooting of US Citizen by Federal Immigration Agent
A Texas grand jury has rejected indictments in the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a federal immigration agent.
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Wednesday that a grand jury declined to hand up indictments in the March 15, 2025 shooting death of 23 year old Ruben Ray Martinez. Martinez, who lived in San Antonio, was shot during a traffic encounter near South Padre Island while on Spring Break with a friend.
The shooting was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security until last week, after reporting by The Associated Press and other outlets brought it to light. The agent involved was with Homeland Security Investigations, an investigative unit under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Federal Authorities Describe Shooting as Defensive
In a prior statement, DHS alleged that Martinez “intentionally ran over” an HSI special agent, prompting another agent to fire what the agency described as defensive shots to protect himself, fellow agents and the public.
The shooting would mark the earliest of at least six deadly shootings by federal officers since a nationwide immigration crackdown was launched in Donald Trump’s second term.
An ICE incident report states that officers were assisting local police with traffic control around a car accident when a four door Ford approached. Officers ordered the driver to stop. The report says the driver initially did not respond, then stopped as agents surrounded the vehicle and instructed those inside to get out.
The report further claims the driver then accelerated forward, striking an HSI agent who ended up on the hood of the vehicle. A supervisory special agent nearby allegedly fired multiple rounds through the open driver side window.
Attorneys for Martinez’s family dispute that account. They said because grand jury proceedings are secret, they do not know what evidence or testimony jurors reviewed.
Key Witness Dies in Car Crash
The family’s legal team cited a draft affidavit from the passenger, Joshua Orta, who was in the car with Martinez. In that draft testimony, Orta reportedly said the vehicle was “just crawling,” that Martinez did not hit an officer, and that a federal agent fired into the driver’s side window without warning, commands or an opportunity to comply.
Orta, a key witness to the encounter, died in a car crash last weekend.
Martinez’s family are “proud Americans, strong supporters of law enforcement, and Trump voters. They believe there are honest and decent officers out there,” the statement read.
“They just want to be treated honestly and decently.”
Martinez’s attorneys are calling on the Texas Department of Public Safety to release its investigative findings so the family can determine whether the federal account is accurate and why Martinez was killed.
Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, previously told AP that her son was shot three times.
San Antonio Mayor Called for Congressional Oversight
As the legal process concludes at the county level, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is pressing for federal scrutiny.
In a press release issued Friday, the mayor urged members of Congress to initiate a formal oversight investigation into activity involving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Mayor Jones called for congressional oversight before the grand jury’s decision, saying internal reviews may not be enough.
“In normal times, I would call upon the appropriate departments to investigate this matter,” Mayor Jones said. “However, we’re not in normal times… our Congressional leaders must do their part in initiating an oversight investigation into the death of Ruben Ray Martinez.”
She added that Martinez’s family and the community deserve transparency.
“Mr. Martinez’ family and friends deserve answers,” Mayor Jones said. “The delay… only makes our neighbors wonder: ‘How many more Ruben Ray Martinez’ are out there, and how many more could there be?’”
City officials have not indicated what formal authority, if any, the city may pursue beyond urging congressional action.
The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office has not released additional details about the grand jury’s decision.
