Crime
Man Arrested After Child Fatally Shoots Sibling with Unsecured Firearm in Kannapolis
Burris was taken into custody and transported to the Cabarrus County Magistrate’s Office, where he was issued a $25,000 bond.
KANNAPOLIS, NC – A man has been arrested following a tragic incident in which an unsecured firearm led to the accidental shooting death of a seven-year-old girl Willow Rose.
According to a press release from the City of Kannapolis, officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of Cabarrus Arms Drive at approximately 7:30 a.m.
Upon arrival, they discovered that a young girl had been fatally shot by her sibling.
Despite immediate emergency response efforts, the child was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Following an investigation, police determined that 33-year-old Timothy Wayne Burris, identified as the boyfriend of the child’s mother, had left the firearm unsecured within the home.
After consulting with the Cabarrus County District Attorney’s Office, Burris was arrested and charged with:
- Felony child abuse inflicting serious injury
- Storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Burris was taken into custody and transported to the Cabarrus County Magistrate’s Office, where he was issued a $25,000 bond.
His first court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather further details. Police urge all firearm owners to practice responsible storage to prevent such tragedies.
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.