Crime
18-Year-Old Killed, Another Wounded in Lipscomb Double Shooting
Lipscomb, AL – Authorities have identified the 18-year-old victim who was fatally shot in Lipscomb during an early morning incident on February 26.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Marquese Janhari Webster, a Bessemer resident, was killed in the shooting, which occurred at approximately 12:45 a.m. in the 1800 block of Crescent Avenue.
According to investigators, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire and learned that a 21-year-old woman, who also suffered a gunshot wound, had driven herself and Webster to UAB Medical West Hospital in Bessemer.
Webster succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 1:20 a.m.
The female victim’s condition has not been disclosed, and details regarding the severity of her injuries remain unclear.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has launched a homicide investigation and is working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
At this time, authorities have not identified any suspects, nor have they disclosed a possible motive. No arrests have been announced.
This marks Lipscomb’s first homicide of 2025, bringing increased concerns about rising gun violence in the area.
Across Jefferson County, 26 homicides have already been reported this year, further underscoring the urgent need to address violent crime in the community.
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information related to this case to come forward.
Tips can be submitted to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
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.