Crime
Roanoke Police Search for Thomas Delp in Deadly Shooting of 27-Year-Old Hunter Orlando
ROANOKE, Va. — The Roanoke Police Department is actively searching for a suspect in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred early Friday morning, May 10, in Southeast Roanoke.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of Jamison Avenue SE at approximately 4:09 a.m. in response to reports of gunfire.
Upon arrival, they discovered a man, later identified as 27-year-old Hunter Orlando, lying on the sidewalk with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, Orlando was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shortly after, officers located a second male victim at Fallon Park suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Investigators believe this second individual was also injured during the same shooting incident.
Following the initial investigation, detectives identified 38-year-old Thomas Delp as the primary suspect.
He is currently wanted on a charge of second-degree murder.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case or Delp’s whereabouts to contact the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 344-8500. 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.