Crime
At Least 3 Dead, 16 Injured After Mass Shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM – A devastating mass shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces late Friday night left at least three people dead and 16 others injured, according to local officials.
Authorities Confirm Gabriel Rickman Not Involved in Young Park Mass Shooting in Las Cruces
Authorities have confirmed that no suspects have been taken into custody at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. in the parking lot of Young Park, where a large gathering was taking place.
Witnesses reported hearing a barrage of gunfire, sending people scrambling for cover.
Video footage from the scene captured chaotic moments as individuals ran for safety and hid behind vehicles while dozens of shots rang out in rapid succession.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, where multiple victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to a statement from the Las Cruces Police Department, most of the injured were transported to local hospitals for treatment, while others in critical condition were taken to University Medical Center of El Paso in Texas.
Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the shooting, and details regarding the number of shooters or their identities remain unclear.
“Police are actively working to identify the suspect or suspects involved in this case,” the department stated.
In response to the incident, Las Cruces police are receiving investigative assistance from the New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Las Cruces Police Department at (575) 526-0795.
Individuals seeking to confirm the status of a loved one may also call the same number.
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.