A Minneapolis‑released video contradicts ICE's original account of the Jan. 14 shooting, leading to the arrest of agent Christian Castro on multiple assault charges and a false‑reporting count, with state officials vowing accountability.
A newly released video from the City of Minneapolis has shed fresh light on the January 14 shooting of Julio C. Sosa‑Celis, an incident that has been the subject of intense scrutiny and controversy.
The footage, which captures the moments leading up to and following the discharge of a firearm inside a north‑side Minneapolis residence, directly contradicts the official narrative presented by federal authorities. In the video, a man identified as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro can be seen firing a single shot through a front door that was clearly occupied.
The bullet traveled through the doorway, struck Sosa‑Celis in the leg, and continued through several interior walls before lodging in a child's bedroom. The evidence gathered from the scene-including a 9 mm shell casing, surveillance recordings, and eyewitness testimony-indicates that the home was occupied by four adults and two children at the time of the shooting, and that the use of force was neither justified nor proportional.
Following a thorough investigation, a warrant was issued on May 18 charging Castro, 52, with four counts of second‑degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime. The arrest was carried out in Hidalgo County, Texas, by a joint task force consisting of the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, the Texas Rangers, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty hailed the arrest as a pivotal moment in the pursuit of accountability, emphasizing that the investigation was a collaborative effort between state and local law‑enforcement agencies. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison added that no individual, including federal agents, is above the law, and that the case will proceed to trial regardless of any potential attempt to shift jurisdiction to a federal court. The criminal complaint outlines a pattern of deception by Castro after the shooting.
According to the indictment, he initially claimed that he had been attacked with a broom and a shovel, a narrative that was later disproved by video evidence, physical findings, and statements from other ICE officers and medical personnel. Moreover, the complaint alleges that paramedics were denied access to Sosa‑Celis for nearly an hour, delaying critical medical care. ICE agents reportedly surrounded the property, deployed tear‑gas canisters, and took four adults into custody after the incident.
The case comes on the heels of other high‑profile law‑enforcement shootings, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good and the recent shooting of Alex Pretti, further intensifying public concern over the use of force by federal agents. If convicted, Castro will face state penalties that cannot be nullified by a presidential pardon, underscoring the seriousness with which Minnesota officials are treating the matter
Immigration Enforcement Police Accountability Minnesota Justice Use Of Force Criminal Charges
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Minneapolis police chief resigns after interfering with an investigation, mayor saysMinneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara chose to resign rather than face disciplinary action for interfering with an investigation into his conduct, Mayor Jacob Frey announced.
Read more »
The police chief’s sudden resignation puts Minneapolis back in tumult after years of crisesIn a city that has staggered from crisis to crisis in recent years, the sudden resignation of police Chief Brian O’Hara is again leaving Minneapolis looking for a way forward.
Read more »
The police chief’s sudden resignation puts Minneapolis back in tumult after years of crisesIn a city that has staggered from crisis to crisis in recent years, the sudden resignation of police Chief Brian O’Hara is again leaving Minneapolis looking for a way forward.
Read more »
ICE agent accused of shooting man in north Minneapolis arrested in TexasAn Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting a man in the leg in north Minneapolis and then lying about the attack was arrested in Texas Friday morning, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
Read more »