Crime
John Lang accused of shooting and killing his brother-in-law Richard Willoughby in Woodbine
Woodbine, KY – Authorities in Whitley County have charged a man with murder following the fatal shooting of his brother-in-law at a residence in Woodbine.
On Saturday, police responded to a distress call from a woman reporting that her brother, John Lang, 34, had shot and killed her husband, Richard Willoughby, 43, of Lexington.
The incident occurred at Lang’s home, located at 938 East Highway 6 in Woodbine. Upon arrival, officers discovered Willoughby deceased on the kitchen floor.
A handgun, a spent shell casing, and a spent projectile were located at the scene, according to investigators.
Witnesses indicated that the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation between Lang and Willoughby. The exact nature of the argument and what escalated it to violence remain under investigation.
John Lang was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Whitley County Detention Center. He has been charged with murder and is currently being held on a $1 million bond, according to court records.
Police have not released additional details about the events leading up to the shooting. The case is being actively investigated, and further updates are expected as authorities piece together the circumstances of the tragedy.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.
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.