Crime
Second Teen Arrested in Senior Skip Day Homicide at Newton County Park
Covington, GA – A second teenager has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a student at Denny Dobbs Park during a Senior Skip Day gathering last week, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Tashshawn Lyons, 17, of Conyers, has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a minor, and reckless conduct.
Authorities revealed that Lyons, a student at Salem High School, sustained injuries while fleeing the scene and was hospitalized prior to his arrest.
He is currently in custody at the Newton County Detention Center.
This latest arrest follows the March 21 apprehension of Jarvis Hinton Jr., 16, of Covington, who faces identical charges.
Hinton is a student at Newton High School, according to officials.
Deputies responded to Denny Dobbs Park just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, after receiving reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they discovered Justin Etienne suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation, authorities determined that multiple student witnesses provided misleading information regarding the events leading up to the shooting.
Initially, some statements falsely suggested that Etienne was involved in the altercation, but investigators confirmed that he was an innocent bystander when the shooting occurred.
Law enforcement officials worked through conflicting testimonies, executed search warrants, and gathered critical evidence, ultimately leading to the arrests of Hinton and Lyons.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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.