Crime
Prominent Valley Attorney James Arthur Eaves Fatally Shot in Arcadia Neighborhood, Brother Arrested
Phoenix, AZ – A well-respected Valley attorney has died following a fatal shooting at a residence in the Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire around 8 a.m. near 44th Street and Camelback Road.
Upon arrival, they discovered an injured man lying in the driveway of his home. Despite immediate efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Authorities have identified the victim as 51-year-old James Arthur “Artie” Eaves, a prominent attorney with the Sanders & Parks law firm.
His brother, 49-year-old Christopher Arthur Eaves, was taken into custody at the scene. Police have stated that the shooting does not appear to be a random act.
Christopher Eaves is facing multiple charges, including murder, though investigators have not yet determined a clear motive for the homicide.
While the neighborhood has been secured, detectives remain on-site as the investigation continues.
James Eaves, widely known as “Artie,” was a highly regarded attorney who dedicated more than two decades of his career to Sanders & Parks. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, where he earned a strong reputation for his legal acumen.
In a statement, Sanders & Parks expressed profound grief over the loss of their colleague:
“Artie was a beloved colleague and a tremendously skilled attorney who was an integral part of Sanders & Parks for nearly 22 years. Prior to joining the firm, he was a highly regarded prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. We will all miss Artie more than words can express. He was not just our colleague, but a good friend and mentor to all of us. Sanders & Parks extends its deepest condolences to Artie’s entire family.”
According to the firm’s website, Eaves specialized in medical malpractice defense, representing doctors and hospitals in high-stakes litigation.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the case to contact the Phoenix Police Department or submit an anonymous tip to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
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.