Joshua Orta, a 25-year-old Texan, was in a car with Ruben Ray Martinez when he was shot and killed by ICE agents. Texas Last year, he died in a car accident. Horta is the only witness in the case and plans to formally sign a statement that contradicts the State Department’s account of Martinez. die.
The accident that killed Joshua Orta is not related to the shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez by ICE agents on March 15, 2025. Horta’s family attorney confirmed the incident happened on a highway in San Antonio.
Just days before the death, Horta was scheduled to sign a statement stating they were following agents’ instructions when Martinez was shot. His statement will pave the way for further investigation into Martinez’s death and whether ICE was involved.
Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, of South Texas, was Immigration and Customs Enforcement South Padre Island, Texas (ICE) Agents. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security initially denied involvement but later confirmed that agents were involved in the incident.
Who is Joshua Orta?
Joshua Orta was the only witness to the murder of Ruben Ray Martinez, The New York Times reported. He was sitting in the passenger seat of the car while Martinez drove it. according to new york timesHorta is a “close friend” of Martinez.
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Horta said in a sworn statement that he and Martinez were driving to visit friends just days after Martinez celebrated his birthday. He described the drive as “spontaneous” and “relaxed” and claimed they were following traffic rules when law enforcement approached them.
The Department of Homeland Security charged Horta with violating a traffic law and driving at dangerous speed and hitting a person. However, Horta’s statement cast doubt on the Department of Homeland Security’s account, putting the conduct of federal immigration agents under the scanner.
“As we tried to turn away, the officer appeared to try to walk in front of the car, but he did not move out of the way as the officer told us,” the statement read, according to the New York Times.
He claimed agents did not give any warning to Horta or Martinez before shooting him “multiple times” from several feet away. “Following the shooting, Reuben was apparently unconscious or dead when law enforcement officers pulled him from the vehicle,” the statement read.
“Nonetheless, they placed him face down on the sidewalk and handcuffed him. It took at least 10 minutes before CPR or other treatment was administered to Reuben,” he added, blaming federal agents for negligence. “Reuben was driving carefully in the correct lane and certainly did not hit anyone with his vehicle.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Ranger Division is actively investigating the shooting.
Meanwhile, Texas Rep. Ray Lopez invoked a rule to force the House Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee (chaired by Rep. Cole Hefner) to hold a public hearing.
