Fatal ICE Shooting in Texas Last March Revealed Months Before Renee Good’s Death

According to Rokna, citing reputable outlets, Ruben Ray Martinez, a resident of San Antonio, was shot and killed on March 15, 2025, on South Padre Island, Texas, during a late‑night traffic incident where federal ICE agents were assisting local police with immigration enforcement.

The records indicate that Martinez was driving a blue four‑door vehicle near an intersection where federal agents were helping manage traffic following a separate accident. The incident report states that Martinez’s vehicle struck one agent, causing the officer to end up on the hood of the car. In response, another ICE agent fired multiple rounds through the driver’s side window, fatally wounding Martinez.

Martinez was transported to a regional hospital in Brownsville, where he was later pronounced dead. A passenger in the vehicle, also a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody by local police pending possible charges.

Federal Involvement Not Initially Disclosed

Although local media reported the fatal shooting at the time, neither federal authorities nor the state police publicly disclosed that an immigration agent was involved — and ICE’s role was hidden until internal records were published nearly a year later.

The delay in transparency has drawn criticism from public officials and civil liberties advocates. Lawmakers have called for the release of body‑worn camera and dashcam footage related to the incident, saying Americans deserve clarity about deadly use of force by federal agents.

Martinez’s family was reportedly informed weeks after his death that federal agents were involved, and that video evidence may contradict official accounts, but the broader public remained unaware until recent reporting brought the details to light.

Context and National Debate

The revelation adds to a growing national debate over the use of force by federal immigration authorities. Earlier this year, two other U.S. citizens — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were fatally shot by immigration and border officers in separate incidents, sparking widespread protests and calls for independent investigations.

The Martinez case is now considered one of the earliest deadly encounters involving federal agents during the current immigration enforcement climate and predates the Minnesota shootings by nearly a year.