Crime
Audio: Kootenai County firefighters ambushed by gunman while responding to wildfire in Coeur d’Alene
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A horrifying ambush unfolded in Kootenai County, where multiple firefighters were shot while responding to a wildfire, in what authorities now suspect was a deliberately set trap.
According to Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard, firefighters came under immediate gunfire as they arrived at the scene of a brush fire near East Nettleton Gulch Road, in the Canfield Mountain area.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed an active shooter situation, and law enforcement agencies are engaged in a large-scale search for the gunman.
Scanner traffic captured during the initial response reveals the chaotic and dangerous conditions faced by first responders.
One transmission stated:
“There’s an active shooter zone! They’re shot down. BC3’s down, BC1’s down. Everybody’s shot up here. Law enforcement, Code 3 now up here! … Get out of the way. Engine Brush 551, do not come up here.”
Authorities say the fire may have been intentionally ignited to lure in emergency personnel, who were then ambushed by the shooter.
Multiple firefighters were hit by gunfire. While the total number of victims has not been officially confirmed, fire and police radio traffic indicate several injuries among first responders, with at least one medical helicopter dispatched for evacuation.
Two Spokane County Sheriff’s helicopters are currently assisting with the aerial search for the suspect, who remains at large.
A possible suspect vehicle has been located near the scene, though no arrests have been reported.
As a result of the active shooter threat, fire crews were forced to withdraw from the area, leaving the wildfire still actively burning in at least two major sections.
The full extent of the damage caused by the fire remains unknown, and the safety of remaining personnel in the area is a top concern.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has issued an emergency alert to the public:
“Active shooter at Canfield Mountain. Injuries are reported, but the extent is unknown. Avoid the area.”
Residents are strongly advised to stay away from the Canfield Mountain area, remain indoors, and follow instructions from local authorities as the situation continues to develop.
The Northern Lakes Fire Protection District, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple regional agencies are actively responding.
Updates will be provided as more confirmed 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 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.