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Marimar Martinez sues U.S. government over Chicago CBP agent shooting
Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen, has filed a federal lawsuit against the United States government following a shooting by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent in Chicago. The incident occurred on October 4, 2025, during Operation Midway Blitz, a large-scale immigration enforcement operation.
Martinez, a Montessori school teaching aide, sustained seven gunshot wounds during the encounter. While federal prosecutors initially charged Martinez with assault, alleging she used her vehicle to box in agent Charles Exum’s SUV, those charges were dismissed a month later.
Attorneys for Martinez allege that agent Exum lied to the FBI regarding the shooting. They claim that while Exum stated he fired through the windshield because Martinez was driving directly at him, bullet trajectory analysis shows only three holes in the windshield on the passenger side. Furthermore, evidence suggests Exum walked toward the vehicle and fired a shot from the rear passenger side window, hitting Martinez in the back of her seat.
The lawsuit cites negligence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and false arrest. The Department of Homeland Security has placed Exum on administrative leave.
Entities
Charles Exum · Chicago · Customs and Border Protection · Department of Homeland Security · Department of Justice · Marimar Martinez
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Homeland Security stated that agent Charles Exum was placed on administrative leave. www.nbcnews.com
- [● 15 SOURCES] Marimar Martinez filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government alleging civil rights violations. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The shooting occurred on October 4, 2025, during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Expert analysis of bullet trajectories indicates the agent fired into the vehicle from behind. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Marimar Martinez sustained seven gunshot wounds during the incident. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · laraza.com · vanguardia.com.mx · +5 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Agent Charles Exum allegedly lied to the FBI about the circumstances of the shooting. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the initial assault charges against Marimar Martinez one month after the shooting. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +9 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Homeland Security placed agent Charles Exum on administrative leave following the incident. www.nbcnews.com
- [● 15 SOURCES] Agent Exum fired at least one shot from behind Martinez's vehicle. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The shooting occurred during Operation Midway Blitz after Martinez observed what she believed was an unmarked van belonging to immigration agents. majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · newsone.com · rickeysmileymorningshow.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The federal lawsuit filed by Martinez includes counts of negligence, battery, assault, and malicious prosecution. www.troyrecord.com · www.nbcnews.com
- [● 15 SOURCES] Expert bullet trajectory analysis suggests the agent was not in the path of the vehicle when he began firing. www.europesays.com · canal44.com · internewscast.com · majicatl.com · 1053rnb.com · +10 more