Crime
Victim killed in I-10 shooting on Mardi Gras Day identified as 31-year-old Wesley Stevenson
New Orleans, LA – The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans East.
The victim, 31-year-old Wesley G. Stevenson, was found dead inside his vehicle on the Interstate 10 eastbound on-ramp from Crowder Boulevard, according to authorities.
At approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, New Orleans police officers responded to reports of a shooting on I-10 eastbound.
Investigators later determined that the incident stemmed from an altercation at a nearby store in the 5700 block of Crowder Boulevard.
According to police, two unidentified suspects entered the store where Stevenson was present. Shortly afterward, Stevenson left the location in his vehicle.
The two suspects then got into their own vehicle and pursued him, attempting to cut him off as he drove along Crowder Boulevard.
As Stevenson continued driving, the suspects opened fire, striking him in the head, police said.
His vehicle eventually came to a stop on the I-10 on-ramp, where officers later found him deceased.
Authorities temporarily closed the on-ramp just before 7 p.m. Tuesday as homicide detectives conducted their investigation.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has confirmed Stevenson’s cause of death as a gunshot wound.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
New Orleans police continue to actively investigate the homicide.
Anyone with information is urged to contact NOPD Homicide Detectives at (504) 658-5300 or Crime Stoppers at (504) 822-1111.
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.