Lawyers Prepare To Release New Evidence in Case of Chicago Woman Shot by Customs and Border Patrol

Lawyers are working through the weekend to redact electronic messages and videocam footage that may shed new light on the case of a Chicago woman who was shot five times in October by a Customs and Border Protection agent.Lawyers for Marimar Martinez, who faces no charges in the incident, have said in court filings that the evidence is important to the public interest in light of the fatal shootings by federal agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Ms. Martinez, a 30-year-old American citizen, was initially charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer and assault with a deadly weapon after the October 4 incident, in which her car collided with a CBP agent’s car.The Department of Homeland Security described the incident as an “ambush” by “domestic terrorists” and claimed that Ms. Martinez and another driver had “aggressively and erratically” pursued a Border Patrol vehicle before intentionally ramming it. It said a CBP agent Charles Exum fired five “defensive” shots striking Ms. Martinez.In a public statement this week, Ms. Martinez acknowledged following the CBP car and honking her horn for about 15 minutes, but says the federal agents sideswiped her car and opened fire as she drove from the scene. Her lawyer, Christopher Parente, says Mr. Exum opened fire within two seconds of exiting his vehicle while another agent shouted, “Do something, bitch.”The charges against Ms. Martinez were dropped with prejudice, meaning they cannot be filed again, but she and her lawyers are demanding that the government retract public statements in which they called her a “domestic terrorist.”U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis on Friday granted a motion from Ms. Martinez requiring the government to publicly disclose body camera footage, photographs, FBI reports and other evidence that may show whose account is more accurate.Mr. Parente said his team legal would work over the weekend with government lawyers on appropriate redactions and that he expected his office to release the evidence no sooner than Monday, according to NBC News.Another network, ABC News, quoted Mr. Parente saying “You can’t call a U.S. citizen a domestic terrorist, which is such a loaded word in this country, and repeat it over and over as late as yesterday.”While Mr. Exum’s body camera was not turned on at the time of the incident, Ms. Martinez’ lawyers believe bodycam footage from another agent who was standing nearby will show that the CBP vehicle turned into Ms. Martinez’ car.The legal team also believes that Mr. Exum’s communications will shed light on his state of mind and may show how DHS leaders and other government officials responded to the incident.One text has already been made public in which Mr. Exum said, “I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book, boys.” In another, he wrote: “Cool. I’m up for another round of ‘f–k around and find out’.”Ms. Martinez was struck in the arm, chest, and both legs. Bleeding profusely, she managed to drive to a nearby auto repair shop, where employees provided first aid until paramedics arrived.

Lawyers Prepare To Release New Evidence in Case of Chicago Woman Shot by Customs and Border Patrol

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