Crime
Seven Injured in Overnight Mass Shooting Outside St. Sabina Church in Chicago, $10,000 Reward Offered
CHICAGO — A large overnight gathering near St. Sabina Church in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood was shattered by gunfire early Saturday morning, leaving seven individuals injured, including three teenagers, according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
The shooting occurred around 1:55 a.m. near the intersection of 78th Street and Throop Street, directly across from St. Sabina School, which is affiliated with the church.
CPD officers were already on the scene attempting to disperse a crowd when an unknown vehicle approached and opened fire into the group.
According to police and witnesses, a dark-colored Jeep Cherokee with four occupants drove past the gathering, and someone inside the vehicle began shooting.
Some individuals in the crowd reportedly returned fire toward the Jeep, which then fled the scene.
Police confirmed that seven people were struck by gunfire:
- An 18-year-old male was shot in the chest and leg and is listed in serious condition at an area hospital.
- Three 17-year-old males sustained gunshot wounds to their arms and legs and are expected to recover.
- A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm.
- Two additional 18-year-old men suffered wounds to the leg and buttocks, respectively.
All other victims were reported to be in stable condition as of the latest updates.
Longtime anti-violence advocate Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church condemned the shooting and expressed deep concern for the ongoing violence in the Auburn Gresham area.
“To be honest with you, this is not something that a snap curfew, jobs, or programming can stop,” Pfleger said in a statement. “What has to stop this is parents knowing where their kids are at two o’clock in the morning.”
Father Pfleger and the St. Sabina Faith Community are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting.
Chicago Police cleared the scene just before 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact:
- St. Sabina Church: (773) 483-4300
- Anonymous Tips: CPDTIP.com
This incident marks yet another instance of gun violence impacting a community gathering, prompting renewed calls for accountability, parental supervision, and community engagement.
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.