Crime
Domestic Violence: Woman Dies Days After Being Shot in the Head in Surprise Neighborhood
Surprise, AZ – A 41-year-old woman has succumbed to her injuries days after being shot in the head in a Surprise neighborhood, police confirmed on Thursday.
According to the Surprise Police Department, the shooting occurred on Sunday night around 11:00 p.m. in a residential area near Bell Road and Dysart Road.
The victim, identified as Janice Laborin, was transported to the hospital in critical condition but later died as a result of her injuries.
While the investigation remains ongoing, authorities believe the incident is domestic violence-related.
However, no details regarding a suspect or suspect description have been released at this time.
Police have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Anyone with information related to this deadly shooting is urged to contact the Surprise Police Department at (623)-222-4000 or submit anonymous tips by calling (623)-222-TIPS (8477) or emailing crimetips@surpriseaz.gov. Tipsters can reference Incident Report #250201909.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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.