Crime
Noah Scurry, Samuel Fels High School basketball player shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home
A 17-year-old high school student with a bright future in academics and athletics was tragically shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home Tuesday morning as he prepared to leave for school.
The victim, identified as Noah Scurry, a standout basketball player and academic achiever at Samuel Fels High School, was attacked around 7:15 a.m. in front of his residence.
Scurry was entering a car with his mother when the shooting occurred, according to Monique Braxton, spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia.
Police reported that Scurry was shot multiple times. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:37 a.m.
โThis is a heartbreaking loss,โ Braxton said. โThe principal, coach, teammates, and classmates are devastated. Noah was on the verge of graduating and had a promising future ahead of him, likely with college basketball opportunities across the country. His life was senselessly cut short.โ
Noah was known not only for his talents on the basketball court but also for his exceptional academic abilities. He was his schoolโs highest SAT scorer and was widely admired for his kind and helpful nature.
โHe was the kind of student who offered to help without being asked,โ Braxton shared. โHe was a role model, both academically and personally, with no history of disciplinary issues.โ
The tragic news has shaken the school community. All games scheduled for the week have been canceled as students and staff process the loss.
โThe whole school is in mourning,โ said 10th grader Mohamed Elfaki. โNoah was someone who brought light into every room he entered. He was smart, kind, and always made people smile. Itโs hard to believe heโs gone.โ
To support students and staff during this difficult time, mental health professionals and counselors have been made available at the school.
Homicide detectives are investigating the incident to determine what led to the shooting and to identify any suspects. Although police initially reported recovering a weapon at the scene, they later clarified that no weapon was found.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as they work to bring those responsible to justice.
This senseless act of violence has left a promising young life cut short and a community grappling with immense grief.
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.