“I Should Have Died” — Survivor of Fatal ICE Shooting Opens Up About What Happened

“My Attempted Executioner”: Montessori Teacher Marimar Martinez Shares Chilling Testimony of Surviving Seven Bullets from ICE Agent

In a testimony that has sent shockwaves through the city of Chicago and the nation at large, Marimar Martinez, a 30-year-old Montessori teacher and first-generation Mexican-American, stood before the public to recount a harrowing ordeal that has left her permanently scarred both physically and mentally. On October 4, 2025, Martinez’s life was nearly ended not by a criminal, but by a federal agent of her own government—an experience she describes as an “attempted execution.” Her story is a stark and painful reminder of the human cost associated with the recent “war on immigrants” and raises profound questions about accountability, racial profiling, and the use of lethal force by law enforcement.

Marimar Martinez is the embodiment of the American dream: a dedicated educator, a law-abiding citizen with no criminal history, and a woman deeply rooted in her community. On the day of the incident, she had been doing fall cleaning and was on her way to donate clothes to her local church . What followed was a series of events that sounds more like a scene from a thriller than a Saturday morning in Chicago.

The Warning and the Confrontation

As Martinez approached her church, she noticed an SUV that she recognized as similar to the border patrol vehicles that had been frequently seen in her Hispanic neighborhood. Concerned for her neighbors, many of whom had been living in fear of spontaneous arrests, she began to honk her horn and shout “La Migra” to warn the community . This “spontaneous life alert system” was joined by neighbors who stood on their porches and set off car alarms.

The situation escalated at the intersection of 39th and Katzy Avenue. Martinez claims that the border patrol vehicle, driven by Agent Charles Exum, intentionally swerved into her lane and side-swiped her car . Fearing for her life after seeing news reports of other violent encounters with ICE, Martinez attempted to drive around the vehicle to safety. It was at this moment that Agent Exum allegedly jumped from his car and opened fire.

Seven Bullets and a Pool of Blood

Martinez describes the sensation of bullets piercing her body as she tried to drive to a safe location. Despite being shot multiple times and feeling lightheaded from blood loss, she managed to drive a mile away to a mechanic shop, where she called 911 .

The ordeal did not end at the hospital. While she was being treated for seven bullet holes in her arms, legs, and chest, Martinez recalls federal agents standing around her bed, rushing the nurses to finish their work so they could take her into custody . Less than three hours after being admitted, she was discharged in a wheelchair and taken to the FBI building for processing.

The scene at the FBI building was equally grim. Martinez describes standing in a pool of her own blood as agents argued about whether the jail would accept her in such a condition . Eventually, after she begged for proper medical care, she was taken to a second hospital for further treatment before being transferred to the federal detention center in downtown Chicago.

From Teacher to “Domestic Terrorist”

The narrative presented by the government in the immediate aftermath of the shooting was one that Martinez found unrecognizable. News reports labeled her a “domestic terrorist” and claimed she had “rammed” federal agents . The government sought to keep her in jail until her trial, arguing she was a “danger to the community.”

However, the truth began to emerge when Martinez met her attorney, Christopher Pari. During her court appearance, the judge was presented with over 50 letters from the parents of students at the Montessori school where Martinez taught, describing her as a loving, empathetic, and caring teacher . While the government pointed out that she was “armed” with a gun in her purse, her attorney clarified that she possessed a valid concealed carry license for self-protection in Chicago—and the prosecutor admitted there was no allegation that she had ever reached for the weapon .

Exposing the Lies: The Text Messages of Agent Exum

The turning point in the case came when Martinez’s legal team uncovered evidence that completely contradicted Agent Exum’s version of events. Video evidence demonstrated that the agents had lied about the confrontation, but the most sickening discovery was a series of text messages sent by Exum to his fellow Border Patrol agents. In these messages, the agent literally bragged about how many times he had shot Martinez .

“To be honest, I don’t know if I will ever view law enforcement the same way again,” Martinez stated, recalling the moment she watched Exum testify in court. She also revealed that Exum had allegedly taken the vehicle she “rammed” out of the secure FBI evidence garage and driven it to Maine to have the damages buffed out before it could be examined by her defense team .

The Long Road to Recovery

Fourteen days after Exum was confronted with his own text messages, all charges against Marimar Martinez were dismissed with prejudice . While the legal battle is over, the physical and emotional battle is only beginning. Martinez continues to struggle with the physical pain of her injuries, attending weekly physical therapy to regain the use of her hand . The mental scars, however, are even deeper.

“I am Renee Good, I am Alex Prey, I am Sylvio Viega Gonzalez,” Martinez told the officials, listing the names of others who did not survive their encounters with authority [ She believes her survival was a purposeful act of God, allowing her to “shine a light” on the truth of what is happening on the streets of America.

Marimar Martinez’s testimony is a powerful call for transparency, accountability, and a return to an America that values human dignity and the life of every citizen, regardless of their background or the color of their skin. Her survival is a miracle; her story is a mandate for change.