Crime
Allen County Coroner Identifies Victim in Huntertown Shooting, Suspect Charged with Murder
The Allen County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the victim in a fatal shooting that occurred on Wednesday morning at a residence in Huntertown.
Authorities have confirmed that the victim was 23-year-old Taurean Malik Hayden, the son of the suspect in the case.
Deputies with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home off Hand Road following reports of a naked, armed man walking down the street.
Upon arrival, officers encountered 43-year-old Taurean Latheef Hayden, who allegedly admitted to shooting someone inside the residence.
Further investigation led to the discovery of Taurean Malik Hayden’s body inside the home, and his death was officially ruled a homicide by the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
This marks the 8th homicide in Allen County so far this year.
According to court documents released Thursday, the elder Hayden confessed to shooting his son over an alleged financial dispute, stating that the victim owed him money.
Following the incident, Hayden was initially transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Upon his release, he was booked into the Allen County Jail and is now facing a murder charge in connection with his son’s death.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Further details may be released as the case progresses.
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.