Geoff Bennett:
A year ago this week, Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Texas. But it was not until this past February, 11 months after the shooting, that ICE confirmed its involvement.
It’s now become the first publicly known instance of ICE fatally shooting a U.S. citizen as part of President Trump’s immigration crackdown. While the Department of Homeland Security says Martinez intentionally rammed his vehicle into an agent, recently released bodycam footage, which shows shots being fired into Martinez’s vehicle, calls that narrative into question.
And one year later, Martinez’s family is still searching for answers.
We’re joined now by Ruben Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, and her attorney, Charles Stam.
Thank you both for being with us.
Rachel, we will start with you.
It’s been a year since you lost your son. Tell us about him. What was he like? And when you think of him now, what most stands out?
Rachel Reyes, Mother of Ruben Ray Martinez: His presence. He was so funny and humble and the light of our house. He was always very laid back and just a really good kid. He was trying to figure things out. Yes, he was — became — he’s dearly missed. I’m sorry. It’s emotional.
Geoff Bennett:
No, I understand.
Well, take us back to that day. How did you first learn that your son had been killed? And in the early hours, what were you told had happened?
Rachel Reyes:
So an official came to my home and told me that he — my son had passed away. And the way he described the incident was that he got — there was an accident ahead of him that slowed down the traffic, and then that Ruben was going so slow that an officer saw a container in the vehicle.
But he told me he was going to let him go anyway, so he let him go forward. And then the other officer yelled for him to not go. Well, he told me that what happened was, he got tapped. My son was going forward and tapped an officer, and that that’s why they shot him just for that reason.
And I just couldn’t understand this. Since day one, it never made any sense to me.
Geoff Bennett:
Well, tell me more about that. At what point did you start to feel like you weren’t getting the full story?
Rachel Reyes:
That same day. It just didn’t make any sense to me-, because he wouldn’t — I don’t understand why they had to do that, because I know my son wouldn’t use his vehicle as a weapon. And it just didn’t make any sense at all. And I knew something was not right. It just never made any sense since day one.
Geoff Bennett:
Charles, I want to bring you in and ask you to respond to this statement we received from DHS.
They say — quote — “We stand by the grand jury’s unanimous decision that found no criminality. The incident was investigated from every possible angle by an independent body and it cleared our officer.”
You have now reviewed the body camera footage released by the Texas Department of Public Safety. What does that video show and to what extent does it call into question the government’s account?
Charles Stam, Martinez Family Attorney:
I think it calls it completely into question.
Nothing we saw on any of the video suggested that Ruben posed a threat to members of the public, to law enforcement, to anyone, period. If you look at the video right before the fatal shots were fired, Ruben yielded at a crosswalk to allow several young ladies to pass.
I mean, it’s no laughing matter. Bluntly, people who are using their vehicles as weapons, people who are looking to commit acts of terror, they don’t yield to people to cross the street, all right? And although there are gaps in the video, although that there are periods of the video that are difficult to make out, there is nothing that we have seen on the video that remotely justifies the use of force against Ruben.
Geoff Bennett:
Well, what do you believe happened in those final moments, based on your own investigation?
Well, we believe that Ruben entered a confusing scene. It was a scene that a lot of other drivers had difficulty navigating. It wasn’t clear to me in viewing the body camera whether the cops were indicating that there was a lane closed or an entire roadway that was closed.
So a lot of people besides Ruben got confused and may have tried to enter too far. So we start with a problematic scene and omissions in terms of traffic safety. And that’s really what this is. This is South Padre spring break. There’s nothing political about this. There’s nothing to do with immigration operations.
It’s really what happens when you bring highly militarized federal police and federal officials into do everyday, basic police work.
Geoff Bennett:
And, Rachel, the mention of spring break, your son was there celebrating his birthday. Is that right?
Rachel Reyes:
Right. Yes, he was.
Geoff Bennett:
Charles, it took nearly a year for ICE to publicly acknowledge its role in all of this. What do you think accounts for that delay?
Charles Stam:
You know, I would hate to speculate without any basis in reality.
But what I can tell you is that it’s concerning to us. This demands complete accountability, complete transparency. Sunshine must be allowed to enter the process. You mentioned earlier that a grand jury investigation, no, no, no, a grand jury process is, first of all, confidential.
So we shouldn’t even be talking about those deliberations. But the fact that this was even given to a grand jury, that’s about assessing criminal charges against some of these officers. That’s not what — that’s not what’s called for in a civil investigation, which involves law enforcement or the U.S. attorney’s office or the DOJ or whoever to actually conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident in a manner that is not politicized.
Geoff Bennett:
And, Charles, there was a key witness, Joshua Orta, who was in the car. He disputed the government’s account. Mr. Orta later died in a car crash. What did he say happened that night?
Charles Stam:
Mr. Orta gave my law firm a statement that largely corroborates what we saw in the video. Mr. Orta was also subject to interrogation by law enforcement in the wake of this incident before his tragic death.
And what I can tell you is that Mr. Orta was adamant Ruben may have been confused or frightened. He would never, ever, ever try to strike or hit or let alone run over a law enforcement officer. So I think that Josh’s statements across all of them emphasized that Ruben did not pose a threat.
Geoff Bennett:
Rachel, what is your family asking for now that you still have not received?
Rachel Reyes:
Accountability.
Before, we were searching for answers. And now that we have seen the videos, now we want justice and accountability, because, based on the video, Ruben was not at that night — he was the only one trying to de-escalate. He had his foot on the brake.
And Jack Stevens impulsively and aggressively took his life for no reason. So my son died based on — I think everyone involved in that scene is somehow responsible because of the commotion, the chaos and the conflicting commands. And I think everyone played a part in this chaos. It should have been a routine traffic encounter that turned into a tragic event for nothing. So he took my son’s life for nothing.
So I really want justice for that.
Geoff Bennett:
Accountability, justice, what does that look like?
Rachel Reyes:
My son’s death certificate says homicide, so whatever would be appropriate for that would have been just. But since the grand jury failed us, now we’re going to have to look at other options, whatever that may be.
It’s definitely something needs to change. They can’t keep doing this to people. He took my son’s life. And then DHS protects him with their misrepresentation of my son. And that’s another harm caused by them. And it’s just awful. It’s just — this whole situation is wrong. It should never happened.
Geoff Bennett:
May I ask how you’re holding up in this moment? How are you doing?
Rachel Reyes:
It’s been hard. It’s been incredibly overwhelming. It’s hard. It’s been really hard, just the dealing with everything. And then it seems like it keeps adding on and combining, like, the more the harm they cause. It’s just — it’s been rough for all of us.
Geoff Bennett:
Yes.
Well, I certainly wish you peace. And my condolences on the loss of your son.
Rachel Reyes:
Thank you.
Geoff Bennett:
Rachel Reyes, Charles Stam, our thanks to you both.
Charles Stam:
Thank you, Geoff.
