Crime
Video Shows Student Stabbed During Altercation at West Potomac High School
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A violent altercation between students at West Potomac High School on Wednesday morning led to a 16-year-old being hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed during a fight, according to Fairfax County Police.
The incident occurred around 9:40 a.m. in a hallway of the school, located off Quander Road in the Belle Haven area of Northern Virginia.
Police say a 15-year-old male student used a knife to stab the 16-year-old during a physical confrontation.
The victim was found on the ground with visible injuries and blood pooling on the floor, as captured in disturbing video footage that has circulated among students.
Images and videos from the scene, shared via social media, show several students involved in a physical altercation and bystanders standing near the injured teen as staff attempted to assist.
Medics responded promptly and transported the 16-year-old to a local hospital.
Authorities later confirmed that the victim’s condition had stabilized after initially being described as life-threatening.
At a press briefing, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis confirmed that the 15-year-old suspect will face malicious wounding charges.
A third student involved in the altercation is currently being questioned, though police do not anticipate filing charges against that individual at this time.
“This was an isolated incident,” Chief Davis stated, reassuring the public that there is no ongoing threat to the school community.
In response to the violence, West Potomac High School was placed under a “Stay Put, Stay Tuned” protocol, meaning that while the building was not in lockdown, students and staff were required to remain in place and no one was allowed to enter or exit the facility.
The directive prompted concern and frustration from parents, many of whom rushed to the school upon hearing of the incident but were unable to retrieve their children.
During an afternoon news conference, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid faced criticism from upset parents, some of whom questioned the district’s communication policies and the school’s restrictions on student cellphone use during emergencies.
School officials emphasized that the restriction on phones is intended to ensure students remain alert and responsive to staff instructions during crisis situations.
The school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) released a statement via social media, reiterating that the incident had been contained and that updates would be shared as they became available.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing, including what led up to the confrontation and how the weapon was brought into the school.
Authorities are also working closely with school administrators to review safety protocols moving forward.
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.