Crime
Baldwin Park Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty Identified as Samuel Riveros
Authorities have identified the Baldwin Park police officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty on Saturday night as Officer Samuel Riveros, a 9-year veteran of the department.
The deadly incident occurred during a shootout with a suspect in a residential neighborhood in Baldwin Park.
At approximately 7:21 p.m., officers responded to reports of a man firing a rifle in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers immediately came under fire.
โWhen officers arrived, they were met by gunfire,โ Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated during a press conference late Saturday night.
Officer Riveros and a second officer were both struck by gunfire. The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed that one officer was transported by ambulance, while the other was airlifted to USC Medical Center.
Despite life-saving efforts, Officer Riveros succumbed to his injuries. The second officer remains hospitalized in stable condition, surrounded by family.
Law enforcement returned fire during the exchange, striking the suspect. The individual was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
In a tragic development, a second victim was also discovered at the scene, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
Authorities believe the deceased individual may have been killed by the same suspect prior to the officersโ arrival.
The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, and investigators have not confirmed initial reports suggesting a second suspect may have been involved.
Surveillance footage from the area shows neighbors and partygoers fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted. One resident described the chaos as โunreal,โ noting his car windshield was shattered in the crossfire.
Large crowds gathered near the scene following the incident, and local streets were cordoned off as law enforcement continued their investigation.
Officers and deputies remained in the neighborhood through the night.
Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez described Officer Riveros as โan amazing man,โ adding that his death was โextremely tragicโ for the department and the community.
โI ask the community to remember the officers and deputies who go out there every day, making it safe for all of our families and residents,โ Chief Lopez said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriffโs Department is leading the ongoing investigation.
Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
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.