Crime
Victim killed in Cedar City drive-by shooting identified as 17-year-old KayLee Joan Dutton
Initial investigations indicate that Hunter’s vehicle was being pursued by an unidentified assailant for several miles.
Iron County investigators are appealing to the public for information regarding the tragic death of 17-year-old KayLee Joan Dutton, who was fatally shot while driving northwest of Cedar City on Friday night, Channe2 NOW has learned.
According to a statement from Iron County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Mitchell, dispatchers received a report of gunfire targeting a vehicle at approximately 10:42 p.m. on Friday.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement and first responders discovered Dutton in a red pickup truck at the intersection of Midvalley Road and 4300 West.
Despite life-saving efforts by emergency personnel, the teenager succumbed to her injuries while being prepared for transport to Cedar City Hospital.
Initial investigations indicate that Dutton’s vehicle was being pursued by an unidentified assailant for several miles.
During the pursuit, the assailant’s vehicle pulled alongside Dutton’s truck and opened fire, striking her.
The gunfire caused Dutton to lose control of her vehicle, which swerved off the road, crashed through a vinyl fence, and came to rest approximately 100 feet northwest of the intersection.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Specifically, they are seeking witnesses who may have observed a small red pickup truck closely followed by a dark-colored truck or SUV on Lund Highway between 1600 North and Midvalley Road on Friday night.
Additionally, they are interested in sightings of these vehicles heading west on Midvalley Road toward the Three Peaks Campground area.
Residents and businesses along the affected routes are also encouraged to check their surveillance footage for any relevant video that might assist the investigation.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the young woman who lost her life during this tragic act of violence,” Lt. Mitchell stated.
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office has provided contact numbers for anyone with information or footage that could help in solving the case:
- Iron County Sheriff’s Office: (435) 867-7500
- Cedar Dispatch (Non-Emergency): (435) 586-9445
Authorities continue to investigate this senseless act and are committed to seeking justice for KayLee Joan Dutton and her family.
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.