Key Witness to Fatal ICE Shooting Dies in Car Accident Before Testifying
Joshua Orta, the only witness to the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last year, has died in an unrelated car accident. According to a report by The New York Times, Orta was planning to cooperate with investigators hired by Martinez's family and sign a written statement that contradicts the official government account of the incident.
Details of the Shooting and Witness Account
On March 15, 2025, Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was shot multiple times and killed by an ICE agent in Texas after federal authorities claimed he failed to comply with orders to exit his vehicle. Joshua Orta, 25, was in the passenger seat during the shooting. In a written statement taken by lawyers representing Martinez's family in September, Orta detailed that he and Martinez did not resist law enforcement and were attempting to comply with commands to turn the car around when the situation escalated, leading to Martinez being shot.
Orta wrote that they had been celebrating Martinez's birthday when they encountered a car crash scene. Concerned about an open alcohol container in the car, they were told by an officer to turn around, but traffic congestion made it difficult. Orta described an officer slapping the hood of the car and another trying to get in front of it before agents drew their guns and fired multiple shots through the driver's window without warning. He stated, "Ruben was unarmed, nonviolent, not fleeing and not resisting at the time he was shot. His killing was unjustified and excessive."
Car Accident and Investigation Impact
Orta died in a car crash on a San Antonio highway this past weekend. A preliminary police report indicated the driver was traveling at a high speed and lost control while attempting to exit the highway. His stepfather confirmed his involvement in the accident to The New York Times. Alex Stamm, a lawyer for Martinez's mother, expressed condolences, noting, "The world has also now lost a critical eyewitness." He emphasized the importance of public access to evidence and witness testimonies, referencing similar cases in Minneapolis and Chicago.
The Department of Homeland Security previously stated that an agent fired defensive shots after Martinez allegedly ran over another agent, but Orta's account disputes this. The March shooting remains under investigation by the Texas Rangers, and it is unclear how Orta's unsigned statement will affect the probe. This incident occurred months before other high-profile ICE shootings in Minneapolis, involving Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, which sparked nationwide protests.
