TheDepartment of Homeland Security(DHS) has toldNewsweekthata Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent fired "defensive shots"at a driver after he "intentionally ran over" another federal agent.
Immigrationagentsshot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, 23,on March 15, 2025, in South Padre Island, Texas, but the involvement of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) HSI unit was not publicly disclosed at the time.
New details later emerged throughinternal ICE records obtained by watchdog American Oversightvia a Freedom of Information Act request and reviewed byNewsweek.
In a statement toNewsweek, DHS said HSI agents were assisting the South Padre Island Police Department following a major accident.
"A driver of a blue Ford intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public," a spokesperson for the agency said.
"The driver was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The agent who was ran over sustained a knee injury and was taken to the hospital."Newsweekhas been unable to independently corroborate the agency’s account.
DHS said the incident remains under investigation by theTexasDepartment of Public Safety’s Ranger Division and directed any additional questions to that agency.
"I can confirm that this is an ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, and no other information is available at this time," Christopher Olivarez, spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety, toldNewsweek.
The FBI’s San Antonio field office is not involved in the probe, Special Agent Carmen Portillo toldNewsweek.
It remains unclear whether body-worn camera footage exists or whether members of Congress were formally notified at the time of the shooting.
Source: Drudge Report
