On January 14, 2026, a federal law enforcement officer shot and injured a Venezuelan man in north Minneapolis during an operation described by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a targeted traffic stop involving immigration enforcement. DHS released a statement confirming the incident and said the man was in the country illegally and attempted to evade arrest. According to the federal account, the incident began as officers pursued the subject’s vehicle, after which he fled on foot. When officers caught up with him, DHS said the man “resisted and violently assaulted” an officer, prompting the agent to fire a defensive shot to defend his life. Officials reported that the victim was struck in the leg and taken to a hospital in what was described as a non‑life‑threatening injury. Local authorities from Minneapolis said they were aware of the shooting and were working to confirm additional details, signaling official coordination with or acknowledgment of the federal report.
DHS’s Account of What Happened
In its statement, DHS outlined a sequence of events sourced from law enforcement personnel on the scene. The agency said that after the initial suspect fled custody and crashed his vehicle into a parked car, he ran on foot and was pursued. When the officer caught up, according to DHS, the suspect “began to resist and violently assault the officer.” During the struggle, two other individuals allegedly emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer with improvised weapons such as a snow shovel and a broom handle, escalating the confrontation into what DHS described as an ambush. Faced with continued assault, the officer fired a shot that struck the Venezuelan man in the leg. The three individuals involved were subsequently taken into federal custody and transported to a hospital, along with the injured officer. DHS characterized the discharge of the firearm as defensive, emphasizing that the officer’s life was at risk.
Identity and Background of Those Involved
Federal authorities later identified the man shot by the officer as Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis, a Venezuelan national alleged to be in the United States without legal status. In addition to Sosa‑Celis, DHS named the two other men involved in the incident as Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez‑Ledezma, both also Venezuelan nationals and alleged to be in the country illegally. According to DHS, each man has previously entered the United States at different times, and Sosa‑Celis had convictions for driving without a license and for providing a false name to law enforcement. The three were taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following the incident. Federal agencies did not immediately announce specific criminal charges related to the shooting, though DHS leadership labeled the broader situation as an attempted attack on federal law enforcement.
A Second Shooting During Heightened Federal Enforcement
The January 14 shooting marked the second incident in Minneapolis within a week involving federal immigration agents discharging a firearm. On January 7, 2026, an ICE agent fatally shot 37‑year‑old Renee Nicole Good, an event that triggered sustained protests in Minneapolis and attracted national attention. Following that earlier fatal encounter, large numbers of federal immigration officers were deployed as part of an enforcement operation that officials described as significant in scale. The DHS and ICE have maintained that their officers are operating lawfully and that the escalation in federal actions responds to community safety concerns linked to criminal activity and unlawful resistance to enforcement. The second shooting, involving Sosa‑Celis, occurred amid continuing demonstrations and clashes between residents and federal agents.
Local Reaction and Escalation of Tensions
The incident rekindled tensions between federal authorities and local officials, who have been openly critical of immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have accused federal agents of contributing to community unrest, alleging what they describe as excessive tactics and widespread disruption in neighborhoods. Minnesota leaders have urged federal resources to be scaled back and have demanded clearer accountability for enforcement actions. In response to the January 14 shooting, protests erupted in parts of the city, with some demonstrators throwing fireworks and other objects at law enforcement, prompting deployment of tear gas and other crowd‑control measures by officers on the scene. Local police leadership urged calm and compliance with the law, emphasizing public safety while acknowledging the charged atmosphere surrounding federal actions.
Broader Context and Ongoing Dispute
The federal government has defended its approach, with DHS condemning what it described as rhetoric from local leaders that it says encourages resistance to federal law enforcement. DHS officials cited an increase in assaults against officers and criticized state and city officials for opposing federal actions. Meanwhile, the situation remains legally and politically contested, with residents, community groups, and civil liberties advocates challenging the scale and conduct of immigration enforcement activities. Federal investigations—led by agencies such as the FBI and Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension—are ongoing to review the facts of the incident and ensure proper procedural conduct. The January 14 shooting in Minneapolis reflects broader national debates over immigration policy, federal authority, and how best to balance enforcement with community relations and civil liberties. As the legal process unfolds and community responses continue, the incident remains a focal point of contention in discussions about immigration and law enforcement in the United States.
