Body Camera Footage Contradicts DHS Account of Fatal Texas Immigration Shooting
Newly released body camera footage from a fatal shooting in Texas last year is raising serious questions about the initial claims made by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The footage, which captures the moments leading up to the March 15, 2025 shooting of 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez on South Padre Island, appears to directly contradict the agency's assertion that Martinez intentionally rammed a federal immigration agent with his vehicle before being killed.
The videos were released on Friday following public records requests by media outlets, including the Associated Press. This development has ignited a firestorm of controversy, as the visual evidence seems to undermine the official narrative that defensive gunfire was necessary after Martinez accelerated his vehicle and struck an agent.
What the Newly Released Video Shows
The body camera footage, taken from behind Martinez's blue Ford sedan, shows the car approaching an intersection where police were directing traffic following a separate crash. Several local police officers and three Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were present at the scene.
In the video, Martinez's vehicle is seen moving slowly toward the intersection and coming to a stop to allow pedestrians to cross. Officers then begin shouting commands for the driver to halt. As agents approach the vehicle, the car begins moving forward slowly and turning left. One agent stands near the front of the vehicle while another moves along the driver's side.
Moments later, an agent identified as Supervisory Special Agent Jack Stevens fires three shots through the driver's side window. Crucially, the footage shows Martinez's vehicle appearing to be moving very slowly—or possibly even stationary—when the shots are fired. Brake lights on the car are clearly visible in the video.
Conflicting Accounts of the Shooting
In a statement to investigators, Stevens claimed he fired his weapon after Martinez accelerated and struck another agent, leaving that agent on the hood of the car. Stevens said he feared the vehicle was being used as a weapon and believed it could cause mass casualties. He described what he called "pre-attack indicators," noting that "the driver's eyes were open widely ... and he was looking in the path of their intended movement."
DHS previously stated that the agent fired "defensive shots" after Martinez intentionally ran over a fellow agent. However, the newly released footage does not clearly show the car striking an officer. Additionally, the agent who was reportedly hit was seen in the video walking normally shortly after the shooting while assisting with arrests.
Passenger Said Driver Panicked
Joshua Orta, Martinez's friend who was riding in the passenger seat, told investigators that Martinez had been drinking earlier that night and became nervous when he encountered a heavy police presence. Orta said Martinez panicked because he feared being arrested for driving while intoxicated.
"He didn't know what to do," Orta told investigators. "He definitely didn't want to go to jail. But as far as running over an officer, he wouldn't do that." Orta said the car was "barely moving" when officers approached and that one officer appeared to step onto the hood after his feet got caught.
Tragically, Orta died in a separate car crash in February of this year before he could formally sign a sworn declaration about the incident.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the shooting, officers pulled Martinez from the car, threw him to the ground, and handcuffed him. Medical personnel began treating him roughly two minutes later. An autopsy found that all three bullets fired by Stevens struck Martinez. The rounds traveled through his arm and into his torso, piercing his heart, lungs, and liver.
The report also found Martinez had a blood alcohol level of 0.12%, above Texas' legal driving limit of 0.08%. The Texas Rangers investigated the shooting, but a grand jury last week declined to file criminal charges against Stevens.
Family Demands Transparency
Lawyers representing Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, say the footage completely undermines the government's justification for the shooting. "This evidence shows no justification for Ruben's killing," attorneys Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said in a statement.
Reyes, who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, said she does not blame the president personally but believes significant changes are needed in federal enforcement practices. "I don't blame President Trump for the death of my son," she said. "But something needs to change in that department."
DHS officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the newly released videos. The incident represents one of the earliest fatalities linked to enforcement actions after President Donald Trump launched a nationwide immigration crackdown during his second term.
