A routine immigration enforcement operation in north Minneapolis turned deadly on January 14, 2026, when a federal officer shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after being attacked by three men wielding a snow shovel and broom handle. The incident, which sent both the officer and suspect to the hospital, marked the second ICE-related shooting in the city within one week and ignited a firestorm of protests, political accusations, and nationwide scrutiny of interior immigration enforcement tactics.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the confrontation began when agents conducted a targeted traffic stop for Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis near an apartment complex. Sosa-Celis fled in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car, and attempted to escape on foot. During the pursuit, the officer caught up and tried to take him into custody. As the two struggled on the ground, two men emerged from a nearby apartment and began striking the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle. Sosa-Celis allegedly broke free and joined the assault. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot that struck Sosa-Celis in the leg. All three suspects—Sosa-Celis, Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna, and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma—barricaded themselves in the apartment before being apprehended. Both the officer and Sosa-Celis were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Immigration Status and Criminal History
Federal officials reported that all three individuals involved were Venezuelan nationals without lawful immigration status. Sosa-Celis entered the United States in August 2022, while Ajorna and Hernandez-Ledezma crossed in May 2023. Court records show Sosa-Celis had prior arrests in Minnesota for driving without a license and providing false information to police. DHS stated that local authorities released him from custody before federal agents could lodge a detainer.
Ajorna had received a final order of removal after failing to appear for an immigration hearing, while Hernandez-Ledezma was classified as a non-priority case under previous enforcement guidelines. DHS officials did not initially disclose whether Sosa-Celis was wanted for violent offenses at the time of the traffic stop.
Community Response and Public Safety Impact
The shooting triggered immediate unrest in the Hawthorne neighborhood. Protesters gathered near the apartment complex, clashing with law enforcement into the early morning hours. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that officers were pelted with fireworks, ice, and snowballs during confrontations. Federal vehicles were damaged and items stolen from them, according to the FBI. Law enforcement deployed chemical irritants to disperse crowds, and the city confirmed that two children were hospitalized after exposure to tear gas.
Residents described heightened anxiety in the days following the incident, with some families avoiding public spaces amid uncertainty about enforcement activity. Multiple agencies—including the Minnesota State Patrol and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office—were deployed to manage protests, straining public safety budgets. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension launched an independent investigation, though federal authorities initially restricted access to evidence and witness interviews.
Political Tensions
The incident deepened the rift between federal enforcement authorities and Minnesota state leadership. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the event as an attempted murder of federal law enforcement, stating that the officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Noem demanded that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz get their city under control, accusing them of encouraging resistance against law enforcement and putting Minnesota residents in harm’s way. State officials pushed back, emphasizing that Minnesota law does not permit local police to enforce federal civil immigration violatio
Walz accused the Trump administration of seeking violence in the streets, while Frey noted that 3,000 federal agents had been deployed to a city with 600 local officers. The Attorney General of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging the operation constituted an unconstitutional federal invasion. The incident also fueled national political debate over sanctuary policies, border releases, and enforcement prioritization.
What Lies Ahead
All three suspects remain in ICE custody pending legal proceedings. Given DHS’s characterization of the incident as attempted murder, federal authorities may pursue charges against the suspects, though specific charges have not been publicly announced. The Minneapolis incident has become a focal point in the national immigration debate, symbolizing the collision of federal enforcement priorities, local governance limits, and public unrest.
With two ICE-related shootings in one week, the city now faces months of investigations, prosecutions, and policy debates over immigration enforcement, officer safety, and state-federal authority. Civil liberties organizations have expressed concern about enforcement tactics and the use of force, while DHS officials maintain that officer safety and lawful arrest authority must remain paramount. Regardless of political outcome, the confrontation has already reshaped local security planning and intensified scrutiny of interior immigration operations nationwide.
Sources:
“Minneapolis ICE shooting: Agent shoots immigrant, officer ambushed with shovel in north Minneapolis” – FOX 9 KMSP (Minneapolis)
Various broadcast segments on the Jan. 14 ICE shooting and subsequent protests – FOX 9 KMSP (Minneapolis)
Live updates: “Woman killed by ICE officer in Minneapolis was Renee Nicole Macklin Good” (live blog also covering later ICE operations and protests) – Associated Press (AP)
“Federal officer shoots person during Minneapolis arrest: DHS” – Channel 4 News (video segment widely syndicated)
“Illegal immigrants allegedly attack ICE agent with shovel and broom handle in Minneapolis, DHS says” – Fox News
“Shovel attacker shot by ICE as chaos in Minneapolis erupts” – Fox News (video segment)