Crime
21-year-old Matthew Bartosik charged with murder for fatal shooting in Conklin
A Friday morning shooting in Conklin claimed the life of one man and left a woman seriously injured, according to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident unfolded on Leslie Avenue, prompting a swift response from local and state law enforcement agencies.
The deceased victim has been identified as Michael Lewis, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second victim, Jessica Kalyn Lewis, sustained serious injuries and was transported to UHS Wilson Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition.
At approximately 10:45 a.m., deputies and New York State Police officers responded to reports of a shooting involving a handgun at a residence on Leslie Avenue in the Town of Conklin. Upon arrival, officers encountered immediate resistance.
According to an anonymous witness, officers entering the property were met with gunfire. “They opened the front door and the guns went off,” the witness reported. “They retreated to put on their vests and returned with rifles.”
Despite the chaos, law enforcement successfully apprehended the suspect without further escalation.
The suspect, Matthew S. Bartosik, 21, has been charged with a series of felonies, including:
- Murder in the 2nd Degree (for the death of Michael Lewis)
- Attempted Murder in the 1st and 2nd Degrees (for the shooting of Jessica Kalyn Lewis)
- Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1st Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree
- Aggravated Criminal Possession of a Weapon
- Criminal Contempt in the 1st Degree
Bartosik was arraigned and remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
Sheriff Fred Akshar assured the public that there is no ongoing threat. “What I can tell the public is that there is no ongoing public danger,” Akshar stated during a press briefing.
In the immediate aftermath, areas surrounding Leslie Avenue, including Suncrest Drive and Inamour Drive, were shut down to ensure public safety and facilitate the investigation.
Officials confirmed that the investigation is active and ongoing, with additional details expected as the case develops.
Authorities encourage anyone with information related to the shooting to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
This tragic event has left the Conklin community reeling, as investigators work to uncover the motives and circumstances surrounding 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 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.