Crime
Suspect killed by CCL-holder after mass shooting at Harvey house party
HARVEY, Ill. — A mass shooting at a house party in Harvey Saturday night left seven people injured, including a young child, and resulted in the death of one of the suspected gunmen.
Authorities are also investigating a possible retaliatory shooting connected to the incident.
According to a spokesperson for the City of Harvey, police responded shortly after 8:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the 14400 block of Des Plaines Street in the south suburban community.
Upon arrival, officers found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds following a shooting that erupted at a house party.
Preliminary reports indicate that two armed individuals arrived at the gathering and opened fire on the crowd.
A 4-year-old boy was among the seven victims injured. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and his condition was later stabilized.
Four other victims were transported to area hospitals; their injuries were also reported to be non-life-threatening, though their exact conditions remain unknown.
The scene remained active into Sunday afternoon, with shattered glass and evidence markers visible throughout the area.
Willie Hill, 73, who lives nearby, described the sound of the gunfire as terrifying. “This is something you would hear if you were at war,” he said. “It was terrible. Loud. I mean, you could tell it was nothing to play with.”
Authorities confirmed that a licensed concealed carry holder attending the party returned fire, striking and killing one of the suspects at the scene.
The second suspect was also injured in the exchange and was transported to a hospital. He is now in police custody.
Michael Parker, a resident who lives across the street, expressed concern over the violence. “Bullets fly,” he said. “They don’t have a name on them.”
Officials emphasized that the incident appears to be isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
In a separate but possibly related incident, Harvey police responded to reports of gunfire just before 5:00 a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of Calumet Boulevard.
Officers discovered a man inside a minivan who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has been identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as 24-year-old Charles Lipsey.
Preliminary information suggests the second shooting may have been a retaliatory act connected to the earlier mass shooting.
Investigators are actively pursuing leads, and authorities report that witnesses are cooperating.
The investigation into both shootings remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harvey Police Department.
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.