1 day ago
ICE Agent Arrested in Minnesota Over Shooting and Alleged Lies
An immigration officer named Christian Castro was arrested in Minneapolis.
He is accused of shooting a Venezuelan man in the leg during a January confrontation.
The shooting happened while children were inside the apartment.
Castro is also accused of giving investigators an untrue account of what happened.
Video evidence reportedly contradicted his claim that people attacked him with household tools.
He had returned to Texas, which delayed Minnesota’s efforts to arrest him.
Castro’s lawyer says he wants to have his case heard in court.
The case is connected to a large immigration enforcement operation that caused protests in Minneapolis.
The report refers to the officer as both Christian Castro and Rolando Cantu.
ICE agent Christian Castro turned himself in and was booked into the Hennepin County jail in Minneapolis.
He faces state assault charges for shooting Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg on January 14.
Federal prosecutors accuse Castro of making false statements about the shooting to investigators.
The case stems from Operation Metro Surge, a controversial Minneapolis immigration enforcement deployment.
Castro’s lawyer said he intended to face the charges, while prosecutors argued he could flee to Mexico.
- Who
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Christian Castro, also referred to as Rolando Cantu in the report, and Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
- What
- Castro was arrested on state assault and false-reporting allegations and faces a federal charge of making false statements to investigators.
- Where
- Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota; Castro had previously been held and released in Texas.
- When
- The arrest occurred on Wednesday, September 16, following a January 14 shooting; court appearances were expected Thursday and Friday.
- Why
- Minnesota authorities sought Castro because they allege he shot Sosa-Celis and falsely described the confrontation to investigators.
Prosecutors and Minnesota Authorities
Defense and Supporters
Risk of Flight
Prosecutors and Minnesota Authorities
Hennepin County prosecutors branded Castro a flight risk and said he might flee to Mexico after he returned to Texas.
Defense and Supporters
Castro’s lawyer disputed that assessment, saying Castro always intended to answer the charges in Minneapolis and wanted his day in court.
Account of the Confrontation
Prosecutors and Minnesota Authorities
Prosecutors allege Castro falsely told superiors that Sosa-Celis and others attacked him with a snow shovel and broom; video evidence reportedly disproved that account.
Defense and Supporters
Castro’s lawyer maintains that the agent should be allowed to address the allegations in court; the article does not provide a detailed defense of the shooting account.
Extradition and Accountability
Prosecutors and Minnesota Authorities
Minnesota officials pursued extradition and said Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s effort to prevent it had failed.
Defense and Supporters
Abbott questioned whether Castro qualified as a fugitive because the Department of Homeland Security had reassigned him to Texas after the shooting.
Key facts
- Arrest location
- Downtown Minneapolis
- Booking location
- Hennepin County jail
- State allegations
- Assault and false reporting of a crime
- Federal allegation
- Making false statements to investigators
- Shooting victim
- Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national
- Related operation
- Operation Metro Surge
- Employment status
- The Department of Homeland Security suspended Castro from ICE
- Name discrepancy
- The report identifies the agent as Christian Castro but refers to a lawyer for Rolando Cantu in its opening passage
Quotes
Rolando Cantu
Lawyer for ICE agent Christian Castro
“He wants his day in court.”
theprint.in
Mary Moriarty
Hennepin County attorney who brought the state case
“Governor Abbott’s attempt to shield Mr. Castro from accountability has failed. We look forward to commencing our prosecution”
theprint.in
Sources
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