Woman shot by CBP in Chicago wants evidence disclosed to public [View all]

Source: ABC News

January 26, 2026, 7:53 PM


An attorney for a Chicago woman shot and wounded by a Customs and Border Protection agent during Operation Midway Blitz is asking a federal judge to allow the public disclosure of evidence -- including body camera footage, electronic communications and photographs -- in order to "combat the continuing harm to her reputation" and to inform the public about the government's response to the shooting incident.

"What happened to Ms. Martinez and the truth about the events of October 4, 2025, as well as what is happening with the killing of two other individuals by DHS agents have become matters of strong public interest and debate," wrote Chris Parente, an attorney for Marimar Martinez, who was shot five times after her vehicle was involved in a collision with an SUV driven by Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum.

Public disclosure of the evidence "is necessary to allow Ms. Martinez to ensure that debate is based in fact," Parente argued. The evidence Parente now seeks to make public is covered by a protective order that prohibits him from disclosing the materials or using them in connection with any other matter without further order of the court. Such orders are standard in criminal cases in order to protect the integrity of a trial.

ABC News and other media organizations previously sought modification of the protective order in the case to obtain the body camera footage and other evidence. The motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis. The government dismissed its case against Martinez in late November. But Parente argues in his motion filed Monday that the federal government -- despite abandoning its prosecution of Martinez -- is continuing to engage in a "counter-factual public relations war" against his client.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-shot-cbp-chicago-evidence-disclosed-public/story?id=129581617