Full Breakdown
ICE Officer Charged with False Statements in Minneapolis Shooting
9/4/2026, 4:08:27 AM
The Federal Indictment
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Christian Castro has been indicted on six counts of making false statements to federal investigators about the January 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in north Minneapolis. Prosecutors allege Castro fired his service weapon through a closed front door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg; the bullet later lodged in a child’s bedroom wall. The indictment remains sealed, and Castro is not currently in custody.
Background & Context
The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign launched in the prior year that deployed thousands of ICE agents to Minnesota’s Twin Cities. The operation sparked widespread protests and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Initial statements from the Department of Homeland Security described the shooting as self-defense after officers were allegedly attacked with a broom handle and a snow shovel. Subsequent video evidence contradicted that narrative, leading to the dismissal of assault charges against Sosa-Celis and another suspect.
Timeline
- January 14 – Castro shoots Sosa-Celis during an ICE enforcement action.
- May 29 – Castro is arrested in Brownsville, Texas on a Minnesota warrant.
- August 27 – A federal judge declines to compel Texas Governor Greg Abbott to extradite Castro; he is released after roughly 90 days in custody.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24, shot in the leg; bullet traveled through the door into a child’s room.
- State charges: Four counts of second-degree assault and one count of false reporting of a crime.
- Federal charges: Six counts of false statements to investigators (sealed indictment).
Official Statements & Responses
- Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County Attorney, filed the state assault and false-reporting charges.
- Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, sued Governor Abbott to enforce extradition; a federal judge denied the request.
- A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the federal indictment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Early Department of Homeland Security accounts claimed Castro acted in self-defense after being attacked with a broom and shovel. Video and FBI affidavits later showed the opposite, prompting dismissal of the assault charges against the migrants.
- ProPublica reported that Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans advocated for a civil-rights charge (deprivation of rights under color of law) but was overruled by senior Justice Department officials. Evans was subsequently fired, and the status of any additional federal charges remains “under investigation.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements,” — Todd Lyons, acting ICE director
What’s Next
Federal prosecutors continue to assess whether to pursue a civil-rights charge against Castro; no further indictment has been unsealed. Minnesota officials maintain an active warrant and have expressed concern that Castro could flee the country. The internal Justice Department dispute, highlighted by the dismissal of Assistant Attorney Evans, is itself under investigation.
