Crime
1 killed after shooting at Dragon Horn Tavern in Albuquerque
The shooting involved a bartender at the establishment.
On the evening of November 27, Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers responded to reports of a fatal shooting at the Dragon Horn Tavern, located at 2906 Juan Tabo Boulevard NE.
The incident occurred during the bar’s operating hours, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a man who had been fatally shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early information from an unofficial APD source suggested that the shooting involved the barโs bartender, though this detail was later clarified as the investigation progressed.
According to the criminal complaint, the shooting followed a confrontation between 30-year-old Jeremy Saiz, a bartender at the tavern, and a patron.
Witnesses reported that a verbal altercation began when the patron invited Saiz to play a game of pool.
The argument escalated, and both men stepped outside the establishment. Shortly after, a single gunshot was heard, and the victim stumbled back into the tavern, uttering the word โbro,โ allegedly directed at Saiz, before collapsing.
Saiz fled the scene and went to his home. An off-duty APD officer later contacted detectives, reporting that Saiz had admitted to killing someone at work and expressed a desire to turn himself in. Detectives located Saiz at his residence, placed him under arrest, and searched the vehicle he used to leave the scene. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
Charges Filed Against Saiz
Saiz faces multiple charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Tampering with evidence
- Negligent use of a deadly weapon (while intoxicated)
- Unlawful carrying of a firearm in a liquor establishment
Saiz declined to answer investigatorsโ questions, instead requesting legal representation.
APD initially stated that the shooting occurred on Tuesday, November 26. However, sources, along with the criminal complaint, confirmed the incident took place on Wednesday, November 27. This clarification underscores the importance of accurate reporting amidst ongoing investigations.
This incident marks Albuquerque’s 122nd homicide of 2024, further spotlighting the cityโs struggles with violent crime. The investigation remains active, and more updates are expected as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
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.