The City of Minneapolis has released video footage from a January incident involving ICE agents that resulted in the shooting and injury of a 24-year-old Venezuelan man, Julio Sosa-Celis. The release of the 9-minute video, captured by city-owned cameras, has prompted a criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office due to inconsistencies in sworn testimony from the agents involved.

Incident Details and Initial Reports

The incident occurred on January 14th near the intersection of North Lyndale Avenue and North 24th Avenue, specifically in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North, just before 7 p.m. Initial reports indicated federal agents were pursuing Sosa-Celis in a vehicle that crashed into a snowbank.

Sosa-Celis then fled on foot to a nearby residence. An agent pursued and attempted an arrest, leading to an altercation. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), two additional individuals from a nearby apartment joined the confrontation, allegedly attacking the agent, with one reportedly wielding a broomstick. DHS stated, 'After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer.'

Evidence Recovered at the Scene

State investigators recovered a plastic shovel and photographed the scene before leaving. A subsequent search warrant, executed on January 21st by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), yielded a broom, a shell casing, and a bullet.

Charges Dropped and Investigation Launched

Initially, both Julio Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, 26, were charged with assaulting a federal agent. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) later requested the dismissal of these charges “with prejudice,” citing “newly discovered evidence…materially inconsistent with the allegations in the complaint affidavit.”

Criminal Investigation into Agent Testimony

The U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated a criminal investigation after the video evidence revealed that the agents’ sworn testimony contained 'untruthful statements.' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, 'Lying under oath is a serious federal offense,' and adding, 'Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated.'

The city has stated it possesses no further information and will refrain from providing additional comments. The full video is available for public viewing. This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement interactions with the public.