Crime
Sapanna Harris Killed in Suspected Domestic Violence Shooting on West Side of Indianapolis
A male person of interest was located approximately a block from the scene shortly afterward.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A woman was killed Saturday evening in a shooting believed to be related to domestic violence, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).
Officers responded to the area of Chadbourne Drive and West St. Clair Street, just off North Girls School Road, around 8:15 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of a shooting.
According to IMPD, dispatchers noted the sounds of a domestic disturbance in the background of several 911 calls related to the incident.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Sapanna Harris Williams, an adult female, inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds.
Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A male person of interest was located approximately a block from the scene shortly afterward.
During the apprehension, officers deployed a Taser to safely take him into custody.
His identity has not been released, and it is unclear at this time whether any charges have been formally filed.
IMPD’s Victim Assistance Unit and a department chaplain were present at the scene to support those affected.
Investigators currently believe this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public.
During a media briefing, IMPD Night Watch Captain Rob Rider emphasized the inherent danger involved in domestic violence cases—for both the individuals and responding officers.
“Any time there’s a domestic-related incident, it’s one of the most dangerous an officer can go into,” said Captain Rider. “There’s a lot of emotion, a lot of passion. Unfortunately, things explode sometimes. People make bad decisions. That’s what occurred tonight.”
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact IMPD Homicide detectives or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).
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.