Crime
18-year-old Au’jai Davenport killed in northeast Columbus shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An 18-year-old woman is dead and another is recovering from injuries following a shooting in northeast Columbus late Wednesday night, according to the Columbus Division of Police.
The incident occurred around 9:39 p.m. in the 2500 block of Mock Road, near the Mock Park area.
Police say two female victims were shot and subsequently attempted to flee the scene in a vehicle.
The car, which also contained three additional occupants—including two juveniles—traveled nearly two miles northwest before stopping at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Joyce Avenue.
When emergency responders arrived, they found both women suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, identified as 18-year-old Au’jai Davenport, was transported to Grant Medical Center in critical condition.
She was later pronounced deceased at 10:05 p.m.
The second woman was also taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
The other three individuals in the vehicle were not injured.
The Columbus Police Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation and is working to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting. No arrests have been made, and a motive has not yet been released.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may remain anonymous.
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.