Crime
Downtown Wallace shooting suspect identified as 77-year-old John Drake
WALLACE, Idaho — Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy has confirmed that the suspect involved in Friday’s shooting at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office was John Drake, 77, who was fatally shot by law enforcement inside the building.
According to authorities, the investigation into the incident remained ongoing as of Saturday.
Law enforcement officials confirmed they have been in contact with Drake’s wife, Clare Drake, who is cooperating fully with investigators.
She told authorities she was unaware that Drake had left the home or intended to carry out the actions that led to the shooting.
Sheriff Eddy stated that Drake was generally supportive of law enforcement and had minimal prior contact with police.
Investigators do not believe Drake was targeting a specific individual inside the building, though officials acknowledged that the motive may ultimately remain unclear.
Authorities reported that Drake entered the sheriff’s office at approximately 2:40 p.m. Friday.
He remained inside the facility for about 90 minutes, spending most of his time in the public lobby, the jail visiting area, and the courtroom.
During the incident, multiple rounds were fired, leaving bullet damage throughout the building.
Everyone inside the facility took shelter as the situation unfolded. Investigators believe three law enforcement officers discharged their weapons during the response.
According to law enforcement briefings, two civilian bystanders were injured outside the sheriff’s office when Drake allegedly fired through the windshield of a vehicle, striking one woman seated in the front and another in the back.
A source familiar with the incident said the two injured bystanders were transported to a local hospital by a family member.
Authorities further reported that the suspect continued firing at the vehicle as it fled the scene toward the hospital. Both bystanders sustained gunshot wounds to their legs and were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
In addition, a Kellogg police officer sustained a minor injury after being struck in the ear by glass while stationed in the dispatch center, which shares a window with the sheriff’s office lobby. That officer was also transported to a hospital for treatment.
During a press conference in Wallace, officials confirmed that two bystanders and one law enforcement officer were injured in the shooting.
Authorities stated that the suspect was in the lobby when he was fat see shot by police.
In a separate release, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) said the active shooter was first reported at 2:40 p.m., and after a multi-agency response, the suspect was neutralized by approximately 5:00 p.m. KCSO confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Despite the absence of an active danger, officials continue to urge the public to avoid the downtown Wallace area while the investigation proceeds. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris confirmed that the suspect died at the scene.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including sheriff’s offices from surrounding counties.
The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office announced it sent additional personnel to assist and reiterated calls for the public to stay clear of the area.
The Idaho Transportation Department also reported that the Interstate 90 eastbound off-ramp at Exit 62 near Wallace was temporarily closed as part of the law enforcement response.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the suspect’s motive and said further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
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.