Color me skeptical
Tuesday, Oct 7, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Official federal government background from Sunday is here if you need it. Sun-Times…
Body-camera video of a Border Patrol agent involved in the shooting of a woman who was allegedly chasing agents in Brighton Park over the weekend shows an officer saying, “Do something, b—-,” before pulling over and shooting the woman five times, the woman’s attorney said in federal court Monday.
The video appears to contradict the government’s allegation that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire on her late Saturday morning on Kedzie Avenue near 39th Street, her attorney, Christopher Parente, said at a detention hearing at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.
U.S. District Judge Heather McShain denied a request by the federal government to detain Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, 21, pending trial. Martinez and Ruiz, who wore orange jumpsuits for the detention hearing, were charged Sunday with felony assault of a federal officer.
The judge said it “is a miracle to me that no one was more seriously injured” in the incident in which Martinez and Ruiz allegedly followed agents for more than 20 minutes as they drove after conducting an operation in Oak Lawn. But she said the defendants’ lack of criminal history and extensive family and community ties compelled her to release them pending trial.
* Tribune…
One should always maintain a healthy level of skepticism whenever a governmental policing agency issues a statement. But the Border Patrol, ICE and DHS elevate that skepticism to a whole ‘nother level.
* Meanwhile…
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 8:43 am:
They want an excuse to go full fash on the country, and if we aren’t going to give it to them, they’ll just make them on their own.
This is why I tire so.quickly of the “but you need to protest the right way” crowd. You are dealing with people whose goal is absolute, perpetual, and unquestioned power. No form of protest against them is going to be “the right way” in their eyes.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 8:57 am:
==shows an officer saying, “Do something, b—-==
Just confirms the fact that these agents are acting like thugs.
- Harrison - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:16 am:
Do you also think we should also maintain a healthy level of skepticism of the claims of a woman who threatened federal agents on line, had a semiautomatic firearm riding shotgun with her, who allegedly engaged in a high speed chase, blowing through stop signs while live streaming on Facebook, chasing federal agents for at least 20 minutes?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:22 am:
@Harrison
You’re going to continue to excuse the indefensible because you’ve bought into the Trump narrative hook, line and sinker and you are perfectly ok with turning this country into a military dictatorship. I feel sorry for you that that is all the respect you have for our Constitution and are that willing to give away your rights.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:23 am:
And your “whataboutism” doesn’t address this specific post. You’re just looking to change the conversation to support your narrative.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:23 am:
===I tire so.quickly of the “but you need to protest the right way” crowd.===
So you’re part of the open rebellion crowd? Where do you think that’ll end?
- Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:25 am:
==allegedly engaged in a high speed chase==
So it’s okay to shoot at someone who follows too close, shouts profanities, and honks their horn?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:27 am:
==So you’re part of the open rebellion crowd? ==
Please. Nobody is in open rebellion.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:28 am:
every incident should be considered in total on it’s own. all that led up to it and all of the evidence. that is fair to the accused. and the accusers. in this case the incident started well before the stopping point where she was shot. it included traffic running following the feds.Supt. Snelling spoke yesterday suggesting that people who follow law enforcement in cars should understand the threat that officers feel, especially if they block them. and that they should not do that. not to justify shooting someone but interfering with law enforcement is not smart. i’m seeing lots on line, not just warning people where ICE is, but encouraging people to come out, seemingly to interfere. rocks thrown, blocking vehicles, following not a good idea.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:36 am:
The President is acting in predictable ways and unfortunately there are some citizens who are responding predictably. But when it’s all said and done we have to expect more from the President. He should be expected to lead not incite riots and chaos in our cities. Nobody should be cheering any of this.
- Steve - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:46 am:
-Just confirms the fact that these agents are acting like thugs.-
I’d like to see all the video available in the area at the time before reaching judgment. That’s the nice thing about living in the video era.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:47 am:
- So you’re part of the open rebellion crowd? Where do you think that’ll end? -
Chanting and obstructing traffic is hardly open rebellion. But by all means get these thugs some flowers, let us know how it goes.
- Bud's Bar Stool - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:48 am:
=== Do you also think we should also maintain a healthy level of skepticism ===
The whole point of the Bill of Rights is to enshrine in the Constitution the rights that individuals have to protect them against oppressive government forces. Why? Because human beings in power have a tendency to abuse that power. The Bill of Rights recognizes that reality and seeks to contain it.
The federal forces under Trump are violating constitutional rights of individuals with impunity. They are defying basic accountability by concealing their faces and identities, using vehicles without license plates, refusing to disclose details of individuals arrested, showing contempt for local authority, etc. They lie about their true intentions and routinely lie about the facts.
Any individual at odds with them, by default, deserves the benefit of the doubt.
- Rizz al Ghul - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 9:52 am:
==where do you think that will end?==
You’re missing the point roadrager is trying to make. They’re simply saying that no matter how people protest, this regime will always say it is the wrong way and punish it. Or they will blatantly incite problems to justify their violent response. Nobody is advocating for open rebellion, we’re advocating for our right to peacefully assemble and protest which is being taken away.
- Telly - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:06 am:
== This is why I tire so.quickly of the “but you need to protest the right way” crowd. ==
Tell that to the poor folks in Broadview who have trouble getting in and out of their homes.
- Someone You Should Know - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:10 am:
I’ve had a lot of skepticism on this entire thing. What really bothered me was their flack was all over the map. It happened in Broadview but CPD did not cooperate, it happened here, there were two incidents. You really cant’ get a straight story from them.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:13 am:
==semiautomatic firearm riding shotgun
Oh Todd!
You mean her legal firearm that she had a concealed carry permit for and the video apparently shows she never touched. That firearm? While I would not have it on my seat, there’s nothing illegal about it.
===So you’re part of the open rebellion crowd? Where do you think that’ll end?
I’m not at all and believe in peaceful resistance, but I do not put order above liberty as MLK pointed out many white moderates put order above liberty.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:18 am:
Harrison - I’m skeptical of any story about a fast-moving situation where there is video that hasn’t been shared.
But when a defense lawyer says he’s seen the video and it says X, and the prosecutor who has seen the video doesn’t contradict him, it’s fair to assume the defense lawyer is telling the truth about X.
For more analysis of DHS’ shifting stories, see
https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/10/07/the-brutal-cbp-assault-tied-to-the-marimar-martinez-shooting/
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:25 am:
no one is missing the point. there is a protest zone in Broadview. apparently some people think this is denying them the right to protest. it is not. also it’s a standard thing in Chicago, for years. the point being made with that is to allow for protest but not prevent law enforcement from doing their work.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:27 am:
sorry for the banned punctuation.
- Juice - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:39 am:
Someone you should know,
What authority does the Chicago Police Department have to operate in Broadview? How did they not cooperate when its outside their jurisdiction?
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:40 am:
“You mean her legal firearm that she had a concealed carry permit for”
Where’s the pro-2A crowd to support someone with firearms against a tyrannical government? Where’s Darren Bailey? Must be hanging out with the small government and states’ rights crowd.
- VK - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:40 am:
It’s exhausting being lied to constantly.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:41 am:
=== chasing federal agents for at least 20 minutes? ===
Chasing is a charged word for someone who was following the secret police to alert folks to their presence in the area. Charge with obstruction - a stretch. Charge with traffic violation - perhaps. Shooting and lying about her actions - horrendous.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:42 am:
===had a semiautomatic firearm===
Yesterday, Harrison argued strenuously and repeatedly against any protections offered by the 4th Amendment, and today he’s apparently adding the 2nd to his target list.
What shall tomorrow bring?
- H-W - Tuesday, Oct 7, 25 @ 10:55 am:
=== chasing federal agents for at least 20 minutes ===
My son lives in Chicago. He has said it is now quite common for residents of Chicago to start yelling “ICE” when the see agents in the streets or on the trains.
Is there any reason to disallow residents of Chicago from following vehicles carrying ICE and/or DHS agents as they are moving from place to place, and laying on the horn to announce the coming of the second, er, the presence of ICE?
Should that person impede a vehicle, that would seem a misdemeanor offense of interfering with official business at most.
I am a a pacifist, so for me, shooting to kill is never justified. But shooting a protestor for protesting is a much lower bar, one that I pray most people will agree is never justifiable.