Witness to immigration agent’s killing of friend last year dies in Texas car crash
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot in March 2025 by a federal immigration agent in Texas; the passenger, Joshua Orta, disputed the government's claim that Martinez intentionally ran over an agent, stating the car was moving slowly and no warning was given before shots were fired.
- Joshua Orta, the key witness to Martinez’s shooting, died in a high-speed car crash in San Antonio, preventing him from providing further testimony as Martinez’s family prepared a wrongful death lawsuit.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintained its original statement that Martinez posed a threat, despite no public disclosure for 11 months and conflicting witness accounts.
- The Texas Rangers are investigating Martinez’s shooting, but it is unclear if Orta was
