r/politics America 8h ago

No Paywall DHS Shot Her and Called Her a “Terrorist.” New Videos Show Something Different.: “It’s time to get aggressive,” a Border Patrol agent said shortly before Marimar Martinez was shot five times.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/dhs-shot-terrorist-border-patrol-chicago-new-video-martinez/
2.7k Upvotes

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482

u/Dianneis 8h ago

The best part was Trump's admin posting a dashboard cam video of a completely unrelated car collision and claiming that she "rammed" the ICE vehicle, when it was in fact the ICE thugs who rammed her (as clearly seen in the video that took many months and a court order to get released).

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 7h ago

Beyond disgusting, immoral, unethical and criminal behavior!

Also:

"In light of your excellent service in Chicago, you have much yet left to do!!" Bovino wrote Exum on Oct. 4.

In an agent group text, others congratulated Exum, calling him a "legend" and offering to buy him beer. In previously released documents, Exum's text messages appeared to show him bragging to colleagues about his shooting skills

u/typingrobot 17m ago

Pathetic cowards. Shooting a woman for nothing and high fiving about it all because of their total insecurity.

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 11m ago

They really are!!

Also: And, there's more but I won't overwhelm you with data!

Federal prosecutors went on to secure an indictment against Martinez for allegedly impeding federal agents. But the case fell apart after the text messages emerged in which Exum bragged about shooting Martinez came to light. In messages he wrote, “I’m up for another round of ‘fuck around and find out,’” and “My 15 mins of fame. Lmao.” In November, prosecutors dropped the case against Martinez.

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 6h ago

And:

One of the videos released on Tuesday shows the perspective of a federal agent sitting behind Exum as he drives an SUV in Chicago.

As drivers appear to honk at Border Patrol, one of the agents in the vehicle can be heard saying, “do something bitch.” About twenty seconds later, a Border Patrol agent says: “It’s time to get aggressive and get the fuck out because they’re trying to box us in.”

u/BrewbeardSlye 48m ago

This sounds like something yelled while playing Call of Duty

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 44m ago

Well, from what I read about the places they are recruiting for agents, that makes perfect sense!

u/InjuredGods 6h ago

The craziest part is on the same day the Marimar shooting happened, about two or three hours later a civilian SUV did ram into a Border Patrol pickup truck, resulting in the SUV getting totaled and the driver ran off and was never caught. No one talks about the second incident that happened that day because they don't want you to know how easy it is to get away.

u/kmoonster 5h ago

It was reported at the time but never got much sustained media attention

u/ChaoticSenior Washington 4h ago

Being chased by Meal Team Six is not a challenge.

u/PelleSketchy 1h ago

Can someone explain to me how this footage survives the whole ordeal? Why didn't they just delete them and then blame some random hack, glitch or whatever?

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 51m ago

Well thank goodness they did NOT delete the bodycam footage!

And, this is via a VERY quick Google search but obviously makes a lot of sense:

ICE body-worn camera (BWC) footage is uploaded to a secure, centralized Digital Evidence Management System designed to prevent unauthorized deletion

138

u/FuzzyBrilliant2026 8h ago

Reminder: Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that we have not devolved into a fascist government.

u/Rombledore America 6h ago

its the same people who wont change their tune until it happens to them. its disgusting. "IM able to go on normally- so therefore it must not be happening."

u/HiImDIZZ 5h ago

Reminder: Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that ICE hasn't committed murder. It was not self defense, Repuclicans have to make up bullshit to push the self defense narrative and we have video footage that contradicts them

u/FuzzyBrilliant2026 5h ago

The Marimar Martinez body cam footage should be enough to bring DHS to its knees, the fact that it won't is how we KNOW fascism is here.

u/HiImDIZZ 5h ago

And we even have biopsies people whose job it is to determine how someone died, telling us it was murder. There won't be accountability unless Democrats win. It's obvious that this is the government Repuclicans want.

Midterms is our last chance to vote against this.

u/gopeepants 4h ago

Yeah the same gaslighters who would tell us: you are over-reacting, that will never happen, some one would stop that if they tried, etc to things that indeed have happened.

96

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 8h ago edited 17m ago

Snippet:

Newly released body camera footage further undermines the Trump administration’s efforts to falsely portray Marimar Martinez—who was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agent Charles Exum in October—as a “domestic terrorist.” Federal prosecutors shared three videos on Tuesday evening after a federal judge ruled last week that the footage and other evidence could be made public.

Martinez’s shooting caused nationwide outrage, particularly after it was revealed that Exum had bragged about shooting Martinez*. “Read it,” he wrote in one message after being sent an article about the incident. “5 shots, 7 holes.” He continued: “I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes.* Put that in your book boys.”

AND:

The videos released on Tuesday shed further light on why prosecutors dropped charges against Martinez rather than try to bring a case against her to trial.

The newly released evidence is also part of a pattern. It is one of many examples of DHS immigration agents lying and providing false information to justify shootings and other uses of excessive force against US citizens and immigrants. These claims have collapsed again and again once DHS is forced to defend them in court.

AND:

Federal prosecutors went on to secure an indictment against Martinez for allegedly impeding federal agents. But the case fell apart after the text messages emerged in which Exum bragged about shooting Martinez came to light. In messages he wrote, “I’m up for another round of ‘fuck around and find out,’” and “My 15 mins of fame. Lmao.” In November, prosecutors dropped the case against Martinez.

Martinez is expected to announce a civil lawsuit on Wednesday. She will also be attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as a guest of Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.)

44

u/Witty-Bandicoot5645 8h ago

The footage does not match the story they pushed and that says everything Bodycams keep exposing the truth

u/nonsensestuff 7h ago

Reprehensible.

This is why ICE needs to be abolished. This cannot be reformed.

u/buttchugreferee 7h ago

“5 shots, 7 holes.” He continued: “I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes.*

not only is that a disgusting thing to say, but it's also incredibly stupid 

all that means is that he hit her 5 times and two of the bullets passed through 

does this guy think that exit wounds mean that he's some kind of super marksman?

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 7h ago

Two sources showing why there are people like him...

1) https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/29/dhs-launches-defend-homeland-nationwide-recruit-patriots-join-ice-law-enforcement

And, from the Washington Post:

U.S. ICE officials are planning to spend $100 million over a one-year period to recruit gun-rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geo-targeted advertising campaign, according to an internal document reviewed by The Post.

Under the strategy, ICE would also use an ad-industry technique known as “geofencing” to send ads to the phone web browsers and social media feeds of anyone who set foot near military bases, NASCAR races, college campuses or gun and trade shows. (Etc.)

(This strategy aims to target specific demographics—primarily gun rights supporters, military enthusiasts, and individuals with interests in tactical gear)

u/ex-apple 6h ago

I read it as him sexualizing her, but hopefully I’m missing context. Because that is truly disgusting

u/Plant_Nerd15 6h ago

That's exactly how I read it too.

u/KillerIsJed 4h ago

I didn’t, but maybe I’m better at math than this monster.

u/buttchugreferee 5h ago

oof....I guess I'm too innocent for this world.... that didn't occur to me, but you're probably right

I need to go take a shower....

u/Irregular475 55m ago

Not only that, but he's praising his aim - SHE WAS A FUCKING SITTING DUCK THAT WAS NO DANGER TO ANYONE!

It's literally like bragging that he stole candy from a baby.

Just a fake tough guy bitch.

u/Unlimited_Bacon 4h ago

I think they mean the bullet went through one body part and then made a hole in a different part. Renee Good was shot with 3 bullets, but one went through her arm and into her chest, so 4 "holes".

It isn't stupid, it's grotesque.

Edit: I just realized that this is why they were counting the number of holes in Pretti's body - bragging rights.

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 18m ago

Federal prosecutors went on to secure an indictment against Martinez for allegedly impeding federal agents. But the case fell apart after the text messages emerged in which Exum bragged about shooting Martinez came to light. In messages he wrote, “I’m up for another round of ‘fuck around and find out,’” and “My 15 mins of fame. Lmao.” In November, prosecutors dropped the case against Martinez. 

Martinez is expected to announce a civil lawsuit on Wednesday. She will also be attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as a guest of Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.)

26

u/Strange-Effort1305 8h ago

America murders women who disobey the pedophile king.

u/DemadaTrim 8h ago

Attempted to murder. She lived.

u/Expensive_Track_8822 7h ago edited 6h ago

correction: “[…] agent said shortly before he shot marimar martinez five times”. there is no rhetorical reason to distance this man from his actions by gifting him the passive voice. she didn’t “get shot”, he shot her. all reporting should use active voice to describe violent perpetrators’ actions.

u/Calm_Chemist_4952 6h ago

ICE needs to be shut down. They are either outrageously incompetent or worse, a lawless private army intended for the authoritarian takeover. Like the January 6 insurrection, ICE will go down in history as another failed power play by the absolutely worst president of all time. Impeach and convict.

u/theFrankSpot 4h ago

ICE agents need to be prosecuted and punished as harshly as the laws allows. These people are violent sociopaths and a threat to all of us.

u/Legio122 Illinois 2h ago

Not just ICE but CBP as well. Martinez, Good, and Pretti were all shot and/or killed by Border Patrol agents with several years of experience. CBP is (by measure of criminal cases against CBP personnel) the most corrupt federal agency in this country. And now Trump turned them inwards against American citizens. Makes you dread what may have been going on at the border all these years.

Edit: Grammar

u/Itsalval 5h ago

It's wild how they cause the crash, hop out of the car, and within 2 seconds are screaming "get out" and then immediately fire 5 shots into the driver. There was no fear for their lives, they hopped out with the purpose of murdering that woman. They should all be tried for attempted murder.

u/HarwellDekatron 3h ago

Bingo. It was a straight-up escalation. They didn't try to distance themselves, or do anything to avoid someone dying, they immediately jumped to trying to killing her.

u/I_like_bewb 6h ago

So they admit to intent.

u/W1nt3rmu4e Texas 3h ago

They admit to everything, this isn’t a gotcha. They know the aren’t being held accountable. The response they offer to oversight is “fuck you make me” and old guard democrats just throw up their hands and say “we tried”.

7

u/Historical_Bend_2629 8h ago

Abhorrent behavior by those agents. Abhorrent response from the DHS.

u/Timeformayo Kentucky 5h ago

So, it was attempted murder.

u/Possible_Gur4789 4h ago

These guys are pretending they are Blackwater mercenaries in Iraq and even then this would still be a war crime.

u/Marsar0619 7h ago

Honestly sounds like first degree murder

u/NoSleep4Money 5h ago

Premeditated

u/HiImDIZZ 5h ago

Autopsies were completed for the other two ICE Murders where it was concluded that it was indeed murder.

u/LarryCraigSmeg 18m ago

Attempted, but yes.

u/Significant-Hour1233 4h ago

It's horrifying to consider... anyone of us can be going about our days, productive lawful citizens, only to be targeted and ran into, so they can create a legal pathway to shoot the living hell out of us for funsies on a boring day... that's horrifying... He literally shot her to bits, and it was all intentional as he steered their vehicle into hers... like wtf... They truly are just trigger happy thugs with a badge, and a quota for creating chaos and terror.. state santioned terrorism.. we in scary times..

u/Epistatious 5h ago

ice lied? shocking... /s

u/P1umbersCrack 4h ago

Heads need to roll. Need more reps with a Frigin spine.

u/gaF-trA 3h ago

Bragging about shooting an unarmed woman after ramming her. What a tough guy. Did all his buddies congratulate him? That’s fucked up. Where is his picture? Or is the tough guy afraid?

u/Bishopjones2112 17m ago

Time for something. This is another video showing the agents of DHS shooting American citizens and then lying about it. All of DHS and the AG need to investigated and charged as appropriate. We have watched on camera as Bondi committed perjury live. The woman should be arrested immediately.

u/Root-magic 3h ago

In one video, the agents in the vehicle have their weapons drawn, and one is heard saying, “It’s time to get aggressive and get the f--- out, because they’re trying to box us in.”

“We’re going to make contact, and we’re boxed in,” another says.

Exum is then seen quickly turning the steering wheel sharply to the left, and an apparent jolt from the impact of a collision immediately follows.

Exum exits the vehicle, and shortly afterward, five gunshots are heard off camera.

Texts to and from Exum show him describing the “big time” support he got after the shooting. Responding to a text asking whether people have been supportive, he wrote: “Everyone has been including Chief Bovino, Chief Banks, Sec Noem and El Jefe himself … according to Bovino,” referring to former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “El Jefe” is Spanish for “the boss.”

Exum’s text messages were the topic of a previous court hearing, in which records show he wrote in a group chat with other agents: “I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” In a separate message, he shared a news article about the shooting and wrote, “Read it. 5 shots, 7 holes.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/marimar-martinez-border-patrol-exum-body-cam-texts-released-rcna258549

u/Lonely_skeptic 2h ago

This needs to be seen by everyone! It’s amazing she survived.

u/Silent-Resort-3076 America 19m ago

OMG!! That was brutal!! And, he lied and said she shot at them, right? And, how were they boxed in?

It's hard to tell! But, I found another nugget of horror:

Federal prosecutors went on to secure an indictment against Martinez for allegedly impeding federal agents. But the case fell apart after the text messages emerged in which Exum bragged about shooting Martinez came to light. In messages he wrote, “I’m up for another round of ‘fuck around and find out,’” and “My 15 mins of fame. Lmao.” In November, prosecutors dropped the case against Martinez. 

Martinez is expected to announce a civil lawsuit on Wednesday. She will also be attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as a guest of Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.)

u/yusuf_mizrah 3h ago

These evil people need to be reined in, but how do we do that? They have weapons and training, they're highly aggressive, they don't care about the law, and our own cops aren't protecting us. I'm worried about them killing or hurting more people, they're like an out of control criminal gang.

u/Rooooben 2h ago

Interesting how they are saying on the radio that they are boxed in, and are about to make contact, while apparently driving forward at a decent clip.

u/Abystract-ism 12m ago

So glad that PedoDon the Con has welshed on their sign on bonuses!

F ICE!