Joshua Orta, the passenger in the car when Texas driver Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent in March 2025, died on Saturday in a fiery car crash in San Antonio, a lawyer for Martinez’s family said.
Orta, 25, was killed when he drove into a curved highway exit at high speed, lost control and slammed into a utility pole. Passengers escaped but could not pull out the driver, police said. Orta had given a lengthy statement disputing the government’s version of events, saying Martinez did not hit an officer and that the agent fired from about 2ft away without warning.
The Department of Homeland Security alleged Martinez intentionally ran over an agent, prompting defensive shots. But Orta’s account, detailed in a draft affidavit, said the car was barely moving as they tried to turn around. Lawyers for Martinez’s family were preparing a wrongful death lawsuit.
“First and foremost, Joshua’s death is an awful tragedy for his family and friends,” said Alex Stamm, the family’s lawyer. “In terms of Ruben’s death, the world has also now lost a critical eyewitness.” The DHS said it stands by its original statement. The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.
