Crime
18-Year-Old Charged in Fatal Columbia Shooting That Left Another Teen Dead
An 18-year-old man has been arrested and is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon at a residence in Columbia, Tennessee.
According to the Columbia Police Department, officers were dispatched to a home in the 1000 block of Whatley Street around 5:30 p.m. on April 15 following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located 18-year-old Jayden Braden unresponsive inside the home, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical personnel transported Braden to Maury Regional Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following an investigation and the development of leads, police identified the suspected shooter as 18-year-old Alijah Wolflin.
He was located at another residence in Columbia and taken into custody without incident.
Wolflin now faces several charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent felony
- Reckless endangerment
- Aggravated assault resulting in death
Authorities noted that Braden and Wolflin were known to one another and described them as โassociates.โ Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public in connection with this incident.
In response to the tragedy, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder issued a statement expressing condolences to the families and the wider community affected by the shooting:
“As a community, we come together in the good times and in difficult times. That is what defines us. Thatโs who we are.
Liz and I are heartbroken by recent events in Columbia, including the loss of life of one who had a lot of life left to live; and for all of those who are impacted by this loss and tragic event โ particularly the high school-aged population who knew the situation.”
No additional details have been released at this time as 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 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.