Crime
27-year-old Janaha Smith killed in Fayetteville shooting, suspect Shyheem McCall in custody
The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 9, leaving one woman dead and a suspect in custody.
At approximately 3:17 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Gillespie Street.
Upon arrival, they discovered 27-year-old Janaha Smith, a Fayetteville resident, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Despite emergency efforts, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police arrested 24-year-old Shyheem McCall, also of Fayetteville, at the location.
He has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held without bond.
McCall is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon in Cumberland County Court.
Investigators have confirmed that Smith and McCall were acquainted, and the shooting is believed to have been a targeted incident rather than a random act of violence.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective A. Wolford at 910-705-2141.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477), visiting fay-nccrimestoppers.org, or using the P3 Tips mobile app.
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 subjectโs 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. Attorneyโs Office.