Crime
35-year-old Kristy Harrison killed in shooting that targeted home in Tarrant
TARRANT, Ala. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a weekend shooting that targeted a home in Tarrant during the holiday weekend.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the victim as 35-year-old Kristy Denise Harrison of Birmingham.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday, August 30, at approximately 10:40 p.m., when gunfire erupted outside a residence in the 1400 block of Ford Avenue.
Investigators say someone drove past the home and opened fire, striking Harrison multiple times. She was pronounced dead at the scene just minutes later, at 10:49 p.m.
Authorities have determined that Harrison, who had been attending a gathering at the residence, was not the intended target.
Police Chief Wendell Major stated that the violence stemmed from a dispute earlier in the day involving two women and a vehicle.
That initial altercation, which took place around 4 p.m., involved threats and gunfire directed at the home, but no one was injured.
Hours later, suspects returned and unleashed a hail of bullets into the residence before fleeing.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and investigators continue to search for those responsible.
This marks Tarrant’s second homicide of 2025.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Tarrant Police Department at 205-849-2811 or to provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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.