MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The city of Minneapolis released a video Monday showing a chase and scuffle that ended in a nonfatal shooting in January and the suspensions of two federal officers involved in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
The video — from a city-owned security camera — captured part of the incident in which federal officers chased a Venezuelan man to his residence. Another Venezuelan man who lives there was shot during the confrontation. Federal authorities in February dropped all charges against the two immigrants and opened a criminal investigation into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about what had happened.
The city released the video after the New York Times reported that the footage raised questions about why it took weeks for the federal government’s case against the two men to collapse. The Times reported that federal investigators had access to the video within hours of the Jan. 14 shooting but did not view it until nearly three weeks after they had charged the two men.
The video makes it crystal clear that, just like in other situations during Operation Metro Surge, the federal government’s account of what happened simply does not match the facts, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement.
Federal authorities initially accused Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis of beating an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel during the incident. The officer fired a single shot from his handgun, striking Sosa-Celis in his right thigh. Protesters quickly flocked to the scene and clashed with other officers, who were wearing gas masks and helmets.
The cases against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were dropped after a highly unusual motion from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, stating newly discovered evidence was materially inconsistent with allegations in the criminal complaint. He suggested that dismissal would serve the interests of justice.
ICE did not elaborate on the investigation but reaffirmed that two officers involved were placed on administrative leave pending completion of internal investigations. Their names were not made public. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense, the ICE statement said.
The video depicts a person outside with a snow shovel who retreats as a person being chased runs towards a house, leading to a visible scuffle. The exact moment when Sosa-Celis is shot is unclear, but the altercation continues until law enforcement vehicles arrive.
Both men are currently free as they seek legal status, having been ordered released before the charges were dropped, though they were briefly taken back into custody by ICE before being released again under court order. Local prosecutors have expressed frustration over federal authorities' reluctance to share information on the incident, along with other related shootings involving federal officers.
The video — from a city-owned security camera — captured part of the incident in which federal officers chased a Venezuelan man to his residence. Another Venezuelan man who lives there was shot during the confrontation. Federal authorities in February dropped all charges against the two immigrants and opened a criminal investigation into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about what had happened.
The city released the video after the New York Times reported that the footage raised questions about why it took weeks for the federal government’s case against the two men to collapse. The Times reported that federal investigators had access to the video within hours of the Jan. 14 shooting but did not view it until nearly three weeks after they had charged the two men.
The video makes it crystal clear that, just like in other situations during Operation Metro Surge, the federal government’s account of what happened simply does not match the facts, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement.
Federal authorities initially accused Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis of beating an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel during the incident. The officer fired a single shot from his handgun, striking Sosa-Celis in his right thigh. Protesters quickly flocked to the scene and clashed with other officers, who were wearing gas masks and helmets.
The cases against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis were dropped after a highly unusual motion from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, stating newly discovered evidence was materially inconsistent with allegations in the criminal complaint. He suggested that dismissal would serve the interests of justice.
ICE did not elaborate on the investigation but reaffirmed that two officers involved were placed on administrative leave pending completion of internal investigations. Their names were not made public. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense, the ICE statement said.
The video depicts a person outside with a snow shovel who retreats as a person being chased runs towards a house, leading to a visible scuffle. The exact moment when Sosa-Celis is shot is unclear, but the altercation continues until law enforcement vehicles arrive.
Both men are currently free as they seek legal status, having been ordered released before the charges were dropped, though they were briefly taken back into custody by ICE before being released again under court order. Local prosecutors have expressed frustration over federal authorities' reluctance to share information on the incident, along with other related shootings involving federal officers.
