Joshua Orta, the passenger in a 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 had given a lengthy statement to lawyers disputing the government's version of events. The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Martinez intentionally ran over an agent, prompting another agent to fire defensive shots. Orta's account, however, said Martinez did not hit an officer and that the car was barely moving when an agent fired into the driver's side window without warning.
San Antonio police said a 25-year-old man died after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a utility pole. Passengers escaped but could not pull the driver out. Lawyers confirmed Orta was the deceased.
Alex Stamm, representing Martinez's family, called Orta's death a tragedy and noted the loss of a critical eyewitness. The DHS stood by its original statement. The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.
