MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Christian Castro, 52, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, was arrested in Texas for allegedly shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in January and lying about the incident, authorities announced.
Incident Details
On January 14, Castro allegedly fired a gun through the front door of a home in north Minneapolis, striking Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg. Prosecutors allege that Castro was attempting to arrest another Venezuelan man, Alfredo Aljorna, following a car chase. Sosa-Celis had just entered the apartment with other residents when Castro fired, knowing people were inside.
Charges and Arrest
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office filed four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime against Castro. He was arrested by agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Texas Rangers, with investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension present.
Background and Investigation
Federal authorities had previously accused Aljorna and Sosa-Celis of assaulting an officer, but those charges were dismissed in February after newly discovered evidence contradicted the initial allegations. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons confirmed that a joint probe with the Justice Department had been opened after video evidence suggested that sworn officer testimony was untruthful.
Castro was placed on administrative leave following the January incident. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated, “Mr. Castro is an ICE agent. But his federal badge does not make him immune from state charges for his criminal conduct in Minnesota.”
