Crime
2 dead, 3 injured after shooting in downtown Minneapolis, victims identified
Two juvenile females and one adult female sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting incident that left two people dead and three others injured. The shooting occurred early Saturday morning in the area of 5th Street and Hennepin Avenue.
Officers responding to a reported fight heard gunshots and rushed to the scene. They found five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds and immediately provided medical assistance.
All five victims were transported to local hospitals, where two adult males succumbed to their injuries.
The two victims who were killed have been identified as Benjamin Haggray and Marcel Woodberry.
Two juvenile females and one adult female sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
One suspect has been arrested, and investigators are continuing to gather information about the incident and his involvement.
Officers secured the scene and recovered a firearm. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the names of the deceased victims along with the cause and manner of death.
“MPD investigators are committed to bringing those responsible for this tragic incident to justice,” said Chief O’Hara. “We will continue our late-night safety plan and work with our law enforcement and community partners to enhance safety for all.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org. All tips are anonymous, and individuals providing information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a reward.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subjectโs vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorneyโs Office.