Crime
St. Cloud Police Investigating Fatal Shooting That Left One Dead, Another Critically Injured
ST. CLOUD, MN — The St. Cloud Police Department has released new details regarding a deadly shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in northeast St. Cloud, leaving one teenager dead and another critically injured.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 2:55 a.m. on February 4, in the 200 block of 2nd Street Northeast.
Upon arrival, police discovered two male victims suffering from gunshot wounds inside the building.
A 19-year-old male from St. Joseph was found in the hallway of a first-floor apartment with critical injuries.
He was immediately transported to St. Cloud Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The second victim, identified as 17-year-old Layson Davis of St. Cloud, was found unresponsive in the stairwell between the first and second floors.
Despite life-saving efforts, Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims and the suspects were acquainted prior to the shooting, and authorities believe this was not a random act of violence.
The St. Cloud Police Department is actively investigating the incident with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
At this time, police have not released additional details regarding potential suspects, motives, or arrests as the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this case to contact the St. Cloud Police Department at (320) 251-1200, or provide anonymous tips through Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301 or online at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org.
Further updates will be provided as more 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.