Newly Released Records Show CBP Leaders Praised Agent After Chicago Shooting of Marimar Martinez and Allegedly Misrepresented Investigation
Newly unsealed body‑cam videos, emails and texts show Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum was praised by colleagues — including an Oct. 4 email from then‑CBP commander Gregory Bovino praising his "excellent service" — and sent joking messages after he shot Marimar Martinez five times in Chicago, while Exum has been placed on administrative leave. The records and footage also reveal contradictions in CBP’s account (agents saying they were "boxed in" though surveillance shows no vehicle ahead, a hand‑drawn diagram with alleged non‑existent cars, and body‑cam angles suggesting Exum steered into Martinez’s vehicle), and lawyers say DHS falsely labeled Martinez a "domestic terrorist" despite prosecutors later dropping assault charges.
📌 Key Facts
- Three Border Patrol body‑camera videos (each about 15–20 minutes) showing the moments before and after the Oct. 4 Brighton Park, Chicago, shooting of Marimar Martinez were publicly released after U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis lifted a protective order over government objections.
- The released footage and related surveillance show vehicle movement and damage (a black GMC Envoy reversing, hitting another vehicle, the agents’ vehicle damaged, and a bullet hole in Martinez’s windshield), but the actual firing of shots is not captured in the released clips.
- Body‑cam audio and video capture agents saying they were 'boxed in' and needing to 'get aggressive,' while other surveillance contradicts the claim that another vehicle was directly blocking them; a hand‑drawn agent diagram alleging additional vehicles includes cars Martinez’s attorney says 'don’t exist.'
- One body‑cam angle appears to show Agent Charles Exum turning his steering wheel left into Martinez’s car; Exum shot Martinez five times and has been placed on administrative leave (CBP has not disclosed when leave began).
- Newly unsealed texts and emails show Exum joking about the incident ('put that one in your book buddy,' 'good shootin, lol,' 'gracias senior'), colleagues calling him a 'legend' and offering to buy him beer, and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino emailing praise for Exum’s 'excellent service' shortly after the shooting.
- Federal prosecutors dropped the assault charges that DHS had brought against Martinez (a judge dismissed them with prejudice) and conceded in court that Martinez was not ramming the agents’ vehicle.
- Martinez’s attorneys say DHS falsely labeled her a 'domestic terrorist' and alleged she had a history of doxxing agents despite no criminal record and no public evidence supporting those claims; defense lawyers accuse DHS of misrepresenting the investigation.
- CBP’s public statement reiterates that use‑of‑force incidents are 'thoroughly investigated,' but the newly released videos, texts and emails form the public record cited by Martinez’s lawyers to challenge the agency’s account of the case and its investigative representations.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 12, 2026
6:13 PM
Lawyers of Chicago woman shot by federal agents say documents show how DHS lies about investigations
New information:
- Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino emailed Agent Charles Exum on Oct. 4 praising his 'excellent service in Chicago' shortly after Exum shot Marimar Martinez.
- Newly unsealed texts from an internal agent group chat show colleagues calling Exum a 'legend' and offering to buy him beer after the shooting.
- Attorneys say DHS falsely labeled Martinez a 'domestic terrorist' and claimed she had a history of doxxing federal agents, despite her having no criminal record and no evidence presented to support those claims.
- An agent’s hand‑drawn diagram used to allege Martinez 'boxed in' agents includes vehicles that Martinez’s attorney says 'don’t exist,' which he cites as evidence of fabrication.
- U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis lifted a protective order last week over the government’s objection, allowing release of videos, emails and texts the U.S. Attorney’s Office had argued could harm Exum’s reputation.
- CBP’s public statement reiterates that use‑of‑force incidents are 'thoroughly investigated' and that Exum is on administrative leave, even as the defense lawyers accuse the agency of lying about the case.
12:54 AM
Bodycam video released in federal agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez
New information:
- CBS segment confirms that multiple body‑camera videos from the October Chicago shooting of Marimar Martinez by a CBP agent have now been released to the public after a judge ruled they could be made public.
- The piece underscores that what is being shown are the 'moments surrounding' the shooting, not just stills or written descriptions, giving the public direct visual context for the incident.
12:22 AM
After Marimar Martinez shooting, CBP agent texted jokes, was praised by Bovino
New information:
- Confirms by name that CBP Agent Charles Exum, who shot Marimar Martinez five times, has been placed on administrative leave, though CBP will not say when that started.
- Details body‑cam audio where Exum and other agents claim they are 'boxed in' and need to 'get aggressive and get the f*** out,' even as surveillance video shows no vehicle in front of them at that moment.
- Shows a body‑cam angle where Exum visibly pulls his steering wheel left into Martinez’s car, contradicting his post‑shooting statement to the FBI that Martinez rammed the agents’ SUV.
- Reports that in text messages after the shooting, Exum joked about the incident and was praised by fellow agents and then‑CBP commander Gregory Bovino, despite official DHS claims Martinez was a 'domestic terrorist' and car‑ramming assailant.
- Reiterates that federal prosecutors later dropped assault charges and conceded in court that Martinez was not ramming the agents’ vehicle, and that DHS has never produced evidence for calling her a 'domestic terrorist' or a serial doxxer of agents.
February 11, 2026
2:47 PM
Bodycam video shows scene of Border Patrol agent's shooting of Marimar Martinez
New information:
- Confirms public release of three Border Patrol bodycam videos (15–20 minutes each) showing the scene before and after Agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez in Chicago’s Brighton Park on Oct. 4.
- Details that agents inside their vehicle said 'we are boxed in' just before their vehicle collided with another vehicle; the actual firing of shots is not captured in the released clips.
- Shows a black GMC Envoy reversing, hitting another vehicle, then leaving; images document damage to the agent’s vehicle and the Envoy, and a bullet hole in the windshield of Martinez’s car.
- Reveals Exum’s post‑incident text messages: 'put that one in your book buddy,' a reply of 'good shootin, lol,' and Exum’s answer, 'gracias senior'—all now part of the public record.
- Reiterates that Martinez was shot five times, DHS claimed she chased and rammed the agents’ car at an immigration protest, but federal prosecutors dropped the assault charges and a judge dismissed them with prejudice.
- Adds that Martinez’s attorneys intend to announce a civil lawsuit the following morning.