A US citizen, Marimar Martinez, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent shot her from behind during an immigration crackdown in Chicago on October 4, 2025. The lawsuit claims that the agent, Charles Exum, lied about the circumstances of the shooting, which left Martinez with seven gunshot wounds.
Background of the Incident
During what was termed Operation Midway Blitz by the Trump administration, federal prosecutors initially accused Martinez of using her vehicle to strike and box in Exum's sport utility vehicle. However, in a dramatic turn, the charges against her were dismissed a month after the shooting.
Martinez's legal team has since commissioned an expert to analyze the bullet trajectories and her injuries, concluding that Exum was not in the path of her vehicle when he opened fire. According to her attorneys, Exum walked several feet toward her car before firing five shots in rapid succession, with the last shot coming from behind her vehicle.
Allegations Against the Agent
Attorney Chris Parente stated:
“"Charles Exum told the FBI agent on that day, within hours of the shooting, that Marimar was driving her car directly at him, that he shot her five times through the windshield, and that he ceased firing once he was no longer in the path of the vehicle. Those are three objective lies that you’ll see here today."
