Chicago Border Patrol Shooting: Two Charged in Confrontation, Community Outcry Escalates
Chicago Border Patrol Shooting: Two Charged in Confrontation, Community Outcry Escalates
Federal prosecutors have filed felony assault charges against two individuals, Marimar Martinez, 30, and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, 21, following a chaotic confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol agents on Chicago’s Southwest Side over the weekend. The incident, which saw Martinez shot by federal agents, has sparked heated protests and drawn sharp criticism from local officials.
According to a Department of Homeland Security statement, Martinez allegedly rammed her vehicle into a federal agent’s vehicle, prompting agents to fire in self-defense. Martinez was treated for gunshot wounds and subsequently discharged into FBI custody. The criminal complaint details how Martinez and Ruiz allegedly drove aggressively in a civilian ‘convoy,’ pursuing federal agents during a Customs and Border Protection operation, disregarding traffic laws and boxing in the federal vehicles.
The situation escalated after the shooting, with nearly 100 protesters clashing with federal agents in Brighton Park. Witnesses reported agents deploying tear gas and pepper balls for several hours. Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) condemned the agents’ tactics as ‘calculated to raise tensions.’ The White House confirmed authorizing National Guard deployment to Illinois despite Governor JB Pritzker’s opposition. Pritzker, speaking Sunday, criticized federal agencies for releasing ‘propaganda’ before facts are established, drawing parallels to a recent fatal ICE shooting. Mayor Brandon Johnson has not yet commented but is expected to address the incident at a news conference Monday.
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