Key facts
- A US citizen, Marimar Martinez, has sued the federal government over a shooting incident.
- Martinez was shot seven times by a Customs and Border Protection agent on October 4, 2025.
- The lawsuit alleges the agent, Charles Exum, lied about the shooting and fired from behind Martinez's vehicle.
- Expert analysis of bullet trajectories and Martinez's injuries suggests the agent was not in the path of her car when he fired.
- Body-worn camera footage from another agent reportedly captured comments encouraging aggression and violence.
- Martinez was arrested and taken from the hospital hours after the shooting, despite being wheelchair-bound and injured.
A US citizen who was shot by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent during an immigration operation in Chicago has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging the agent lied about the incident and fired into her vehicle from behind. Marimar Martinez, then 30, was shot seven times on October 4, 2025, during what the Trump administration called Operation Midway Blitz.
Federal prosecutors had initially accused Martinez of using her vehicle to strike and box in agent Charles Exum's SUV. Exum then exited his car and opened fire. However, prosecutors later dismissed the charges against Martinez in a significant reversal.
Martinez's attorneys stated that an expert analysis of bullet trajectories and her injuries determined Exum was not in the path of her car when he fired. They claim he walked toward her vehicle and fired five shots rapidly, with the final shot coming from behind her, contradicting his initial statements to the FBI. Her attorneys pointed to three bullet holes in the windshield on the right passenger side and a bullet hole in the back of her car seat as evidence.
"In what world can a US law enforcement officer stand behind a car and fire his Glock service weapon through the rear passenger window at a young woman who’s crouched over the steering wheel?" asked attorney Chris Parente. He also noted that Exum's initial statement to the FBI claimed Martinez was driving directly at him and that he stopped firing once he was out of the vehicle's path.
CBP stated that Exum has been placed on administrative leave and that use-of-force cases are thoroughly investigated. The lawsuit, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, does not name Exum as a defendant. Body-worn camera footage from another agent reportedly captured comments encouraging aggression. Martinez was arrested and removed from the hospital hours after the shooting, despite her injuries.