Lawyers Allege 'Culture of Violence' Among Border Patrol Agents After Chicago Shooting

Evidence shows agents celebrated shooting of Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen, and praised the agent involved.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Lawyers for Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October, say newly released evidence shows that Trump administration officials 'have created a culture of violence among their agents' where the shootings of U.S. citizens are 'embraced, celebrated and promoted.' The evidence includes texts between the agent who shot Martinez and his colleagues, as well as an email from a Border Patrol commander praising the agent's 'excellent service' shortly after the shooting.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by Border Patrol agents and the lack of accountability within the agency. The revelations about the agents' reactions to the shooting of a U.S. citizen raise questions about the training and oversight of Border Patrol personnel, especially in the context of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies.

The details

After shooting Martinez five times on Oct. 4, Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum joked about it in a text chat with colleagues, was called a 'legend' by one of his fellow agents, and received praise directly from his boss, Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, as Martinez lay badly wounded in a hospital. The evidence also shed light on the actions of Bovino's agents in later operations in Minneapolis, where residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed in incidents similar to Martinez's.

  • On October 4, 2026, Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez five times.
  • On the same day, Exum exchanged texts with colleagues celebrating the shooting.
  • Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino sent an email praising Exum's 'excellent service' shortly after the shooting.

The players

Marimar Martinez

A Chicago woman who was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October 2026.

Charles Exum

The Border Patrol agent who shot Marimar Martinez.

Gregory Bovino

The Border Patrol commander who praised Exum after the shooting of Marimar Martinez.

Christopher Parente

The lead attorney representing Marimar Martinez.

Renee Good

A Minneapolis resident killed in an incident similar to Martinez's.

Alex Pretti

A Minneapolis resident killed in an incident similar to Martinez's.

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What they’re saying

“As Marimar was fighting for her life in the hospital, Greg Bovino was promoting the agent without any investigation being done into the shooting.”

— Christopher Parente, Lead attorney for Marimar Martinez (chicagotribune.com)

“This is why after agents shot Renee Good in cold blood on the streets of Minneapolis they did not attempt to perform CPR. They were all checking their phones to see what reward commander Bovino was going to give them for successfully killing another protestor.”

— Christopher Parente, Lead attorney for Marimar Martinez (chicagotribune.com)

“We live in a strange time right now, where we cannot trust our government.”

— Christopher Parente, Lead attorney for Marimar Martinez (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

The civil lawsuit against the federal government in the case is expected to proceed in the coming months.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight within the Border Patrol agency, as well as concerns about the use of excessive force against U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration.