Crime
Video shows moments 20-year-old Jessica Hendricks stabbed to death in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood
Chicago police are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred in the early hours of December 27, 2024, in the 5300 block of West Chicago Avenue, in the Austin neighborhood on the city’s West Side.
At approximately 12:15 a.m., a 20-year-old woman, identified as Jessica Hendricks, was fatally injured during a confrontation with another 20-year-old woman outside a residence.
According to preliminary reports, Hendricks approached the other woman, leading to a physical altercation.
Both women sustained injuries from a sharp object during the altercation.
Hendricks was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased from her injuries.
The second woman involved suffered multiple lacerations to her arm and was taken to West Suburban Hospital in stable condition.
She was later placed into police custody.
Area Four detectives are actively investigating the incident.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive for the altercation or further details regarding the circumstances leading to the fatal encounter.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Area Four detectives or submit anonymous tips via Chicago Police Department’s tip lines.
This tragic event underscores the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in ensuring public safety. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
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 subject’s 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. Attorney’s Office.