Crime
Innocent Bystander Killed in Crossfire During Shooting at Alabama Western Hills Mall
FAIRFIELD, AL – An innocent bystander was fatally shot after being caught in the crossfire of a shooting inside the food court at Western Hills Mall in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Darin Marquese Hall, 32, of Birmingham.
The deadly gunfire erupted around 5 p.m. Sunday at the Fairfield shopping center, located on Aaron Aronov Drive.
This marks the third fatal shooting at Western Hills Mall since 2018.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts indicate that the altercation began between three individuals inside the food court, where approximately a dozen people were either seated at tables or in line ordering food.
According to the video, one man, with his hand tucked under his shirt, stood on one side of the food court, while the other two men were positioned on the opposite side. As one of the two men moved closer, the first pulled a firearm and opened fire.
The advancing man collapsed to the ground but managed to get back up and stumbled away, appearing to be injured. The third individual then returned fire before fleeing the scene.
As shots rang out, mall patrons scrambled for cover—customers at nearby tables ducked while some ran for safety, and a woman dropped to the floor.
Hall, who had been standing in line, was among those who tried to flee but was struck by gunfire.
A Fairfield firefighter, who happened to be at the food court, rushed to Hall’s aid, using a towel to apply pressure to his wound, as seen in a video that was later removed from social media.
Hall was transported to Princeton Baptist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:33 p.m., according to Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.
A 21-year-old man, believed to be one of the individuals involved in the altercation, was also wounded and taken to UAB Hospital. His condition has not been released.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, and as of Monday, no arrests have been announced.
Sheriff Mark Pettway vowed to use all available resources to hold those responsible accountable.
“My main concern is keeping the citizens of Jefferson County safe,” Pettway stated. “As a result of this brazen act of violence, an innocent person has died.”
Fairfield Mayor Eddie Penny expressed his condolences to Hall’s family and urged the community to end the cycle of violence.
“We offer our prayers and condolences to the family of Mr. Hall and are praying for the injured person,” Penny said. “We encourage all to put the guns down and stop the killing in our neighborhoods.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.
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.