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... However, federal prosecutors later dropped those charges with prejudice, meaning the case against Martinez is permanently closed. An Illinois Accountability Commission later found that Exum had no justification in shooting her.

Martinez said she wants to spread awareness through the charges against the federal government, which include negligence, battery, assault, false arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

"What's happening is not normal," she said Monday during a news conference. "We shouldn't sit here and normalize what's happening. And I'm not gonna sit here."

The incident took place Oct. 4, 2025, in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood during Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Operation Midway Blitz. While the Department of Homeland Security accused Martinez of being the aggressor, she said that it was Exum who rammed her vehicle with his and then shot her without provocation. ...