30-year-old Chicago resident Marimar Martinez was shot multiple times by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent over the weekend. Her attorney claims body-camera footage contradicts the government’s version of events.
Defense attorney Christopher Parente offered to play the footage during a Monday detention hearing, per a report from the Chicago Sun-Times. Parente said the footage shows an agent turning sharply toward Martinez’s car before getting out, shouting “Do something, b**ch,” and firing five shots. Parentez said Martinez drove herself to a nearby auto shop, where employees used shop towels to stanch her wounds until paramedics arrived.
According to court filings and statements made Monday, federal prosecutors allege that Martinez and another driver, Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, followed and “aggressively” pursued agents for more than 20 minutes as they returned from another operation. Federal officials initially said Martinez was armed, but the criminal complaint did not mention a weapon. Prosecutors have acknowledged she had a licensed firearm in her car but never brandished it.
“What I do know is – it was Ms Martinez who has seven holes in her body from five shots from this agent, who fired within seconds of getting out of this vehicle,” Parente said of the facts on Monday.
Start your day with essential news from Salon.Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.
Both Martinez and Ruiz were charged Sunday with felony assault of a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Heather McShain ordered their release pending trial, citing their lack of criminal records.
“It’s a miracle no one was more seriously injured,” McShain said.
Read more
about this topic
