Crime
12-year-old shot and killed while filming music video in West Oak Lane home
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A tragic incident unfolded in Northwest Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon, May 11, when a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot while filming a music video, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
Authorities responded around 12:30 p.m. to reports of a person with a gun in the 1500 block of East Pastorius Street.
Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male inside a residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m.
The victim, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, was reportedly filming a music video with two other juveniles—a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old—at the time of the shooting.
Investigators say it remains unclear which teen discharged the firearm or whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
Authorities have confirmed that the music video being filmed at the time of the incident was captured on video and is considered a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
However, police say a search warrant is required before the footage can be officially reviewed.
“We are in possession of that video,” said Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace. “But we must follow proper legal procedures to access and review the content.”
In addition to the firearm used in the shooting, police recovered several other items from the scene, including a BB gun.
Investigators are working to determine how the live firearm came to be present in the home and whether it was legally owned or secured.
Family members who were inside the residence at the time of the incident are being interviewed by detectives.
Police emphasized that the investigation is active and ongoing.
Neighbors expressed deep shock and sorrow, particularly given the young age of the victim and the timing of the tragedy just before Mother’s Day.
“The videos today are just so violent,” said neighbor Deborah Hankins. “These kids—I don’t understand. I was raised to know you don’t play with guns.”
Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can be submitted anonymously.
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.