Marimer Martinez, 30-years-old, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after leading police on an intense chase. The danger-filled pursuit finally came to an end when she reportedly rammed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vehicle. The shooting happened early Saturday morning in the Brighton Park community area on Chicago’s southwest side. Charged with her, 21-year-old Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz has been charged for his actions during the scuffle. Both individuals have been charged with “forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer.”
According to law enforcement accounts, the pursuit began when Martinez and Ruiz otherwise allegedly pursued a government vehicle. They trapped the driver in, endangering three border protection agents inside. In the course of the incident, Martinez rammed her vehicle head-on at one of the agents. In retaliation, that agent shot her. At the time of the incident, Martinez was reportedly carrying a loaded firearm in her handbag.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy characterized the actions of Martinez and Ruiz as “extremely dangerous and extremely reckless.” He described moments leading up to the shooting, stating, “We’re getting boxed in! We gotta get out of here! She’s going to make contact.”
After colliding with the CBP vehicle, causing the CBP officer some loss of control of his vehicle, Martinez took off running to escape. She was eventually found at a repair shop about a mile from the crash site. Immediately before Officer Smith fired his weapon, body-camera footage from the responding officer captured a horrifying exchange. The footage shows the officer telling Martinez, “Do something, bitch,” mere seconds before opening fire.
Martinez’s defense attorney, Christopher Parente, has strongly condemned the use of the law enforcement, which has been criticized by media. He highlighted the severity of Martinez’s injuries, stating, “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.” In light of this incident, Parente has contended that the civil rights response by law enforcement was overblown and unjustified.
Incredibly, notwithstanding the gravity of the charges filed against them, both Martinez and Ruiz have been allowed to remain out of custody pending trial. The case is unfolding amid heightened tensions concerning immigration enforcement in Chicago, where protests against the Trump administration’s policies have recently intensified.
U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to immediately block the deployment of National Guard troops from Texas to Illinois. This ruling gives federal leaders the backing to continue their troop deployment. Along the way, they’ll move a lawsuit from the state of Illinois that’s currently challenging the legality of that deployment.
More than just a tragic, developing case, this raises huge questions on the use of force by federal agents. It sheds light on the effects of harsh immigration enforcement in cities. Civil rights advocates are understandably watching this situation like hawks. It speaks to bigger issues and disenfranchisement regarding how law enforcement engages communities across the country.