Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis
Seriously injured · ICE · Minneapolis, Minnesota
What happened
DHS initially described a traffic stop, flight, crash, and a struggle in which Sosa-Celis and neighbors attacked an officer with a shovel/broom before the officer fired. Weeks later, federal prosecutors asked to dismiss charges because newly discovered evidence was “materially inconsistent” with the affidavit and hearing testimony. ICE placed agents on leave over alleged untruthful statements.
Resistance to arrest
DHS initially alleged flight, crash, and an assault on an officer (including neighbors with a shovel/broom) before the shooting. Federal prosecutors later dismissed charges because evidence was “materially inconsistent” with the affidavit; ICE opened a probe into whether agents made untruthful statements.
Officer / agency involvement
Unnamed ICE officer shot Sosa-Celis in the leg during a foot confrontation.
Official / DHS account
Initial DHS narrative: Sosa-Celis fled a targeted stop, assaulted an officer, and joined others attacking the officer; officer fired, hitting him in the leg.
Contested points & other evidence
FBI complaint narrative diverged (different driver identified; sequence of who hit whom). Charges dismissed with prejudice at prosecutors’ request. ICE director said the agency opened an investigation into whether two agents made untruthful statements / lied under oath.
Investigation status
Federal criminal case against Sosa-Celis dismissed; ICE internal probe into agent statements; state investigation ongoing per defense counsel statements in reporting.
Sources
How to read source labels
News outlets are tagged with a perceived lean (liberal, conservative, or neutral)—a simplified reading of common media-bias charts, not a verdict on accuracy. Official records (court filings, prosecutor releases, agency statements, legislative text) are listed separately and are not scored as “news,” though governments and prosecutors also have interests.
Court filings & official records
- Hennepin County Attorney — charging releaseOfficial / court
- DHS — initial official narrativeOfficial / court
News coverage
- NBC News — DHS shootings list (Sosa-Celis)Perceived liberal
- Star Tribune — related Minneapolis investigationsPerceived liberal
- CBS News — DOJ drops charges / inconsistent evidencePerceived liberal
- Twin Cities Pioneer Press — agent chargedPerceived neutral