Crime
Alabama Mother Injured in New Orleans Terror Attack Claims Amazon Denied Leave Request
UPDATE: Amazon has reversed its decision and the woman will now be given time off with pay.
Alexis Scott-Windham, a 23-year-old mother from Mobile, Alabama, has expressed frustration after her request for a leave of absence from her job at an Amazon warehouse was reportedly denied.
This comes despite her serious injuries from the recent New Orleans terror attack, which claimed 14 lives and left several others wounded.
Scott-Windham sustained multiple fractures and still has a bullet lodged in her foot as a result of the attack.
The young mother, who is caring for her one-year-old daughter, shared with The Advocate that her injuries have left her unable to work, and she now fears she may need to find new employment to support her family.
The attack occurred on Bourbon Street in the early hours of the morning, where the main suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, allegedly drove a truck into a crowd. Jabbar, an American citizen, was found with an ISIS flag in his possession.
While investigators have indicated that there is no evidence suggesting he acted in coordination with others, the incident has been classified as a terrorist act.
In addition to Scott-Windhamโs ordeal, her friend Brandon Whitsett, 22, was also injured in the attack. Whitsett remains hospitalized, suffering from extensive injuries to his leg, shoulder, back, and head.
The denial of Scott-Windhamโs leave request has sparked outrage among her friends and supporters.
Many are calling for companies to provide greater understanding and flexibility for employees recovering from traumatic incidents, especially those involving injuries and emotional distress.
This tragic event underscores the challenges faced by victims of terrorist acts, not only in their recovery but also in maintaining stability in their personal and professional lives.
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.