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· collected 2026-09-04 · by Louis Casiano
Christian Castro, an ICE officer, pleaded not guilty in a Texas federal court on Friday to six charges of making false statements about the January shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man. The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on January 14 during a targeted immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. According to federal prosecutors, Castro's account of the incident was contradicted by video evidence, which showed him standing up when he fired his weapon and only struggling with the suspect for 11 seconds, not three minutes as he claimed. Castro faces separate charges in Minnesota and was ordered released on $75,000 unsecured bond.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Christian Castro, a 52-year-old Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, was accused of shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan immigrant, in the leg during an incident in Minneapolis on January 14. Castro initially claimed that he was being attacked with a broom and shovel by three individuals when he fired his weapon, but an indictment revealed that this account was false. Castro pleaded not guilty to six counts of making false statements to investigators, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years per count. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors in Minnesota had been preparing to charge Castro with deprivation of rights under color of law for the shooting, but their efforts were thwarted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C., which ultimately decided not to bring civil rights charges against him despite strong objections from a federal prosecutor handling the case.
Written for “ICE Officer Lied About Shooting” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 4088 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-04
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of lying about a January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis during the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
asserted
officer → plead → immigration
Christian Castro appeared in a Texas federal court where he faces six charges of making "materially false" statements to investigators, according to federal court documents unsealed Friday.
uncertain
he → appear → documents
He turned himself in to authorities Thursday evening.
asserted
He → turn → authorities
A judge ordered Castro released on a $75,000 unsecured bond and required him to wear an ankle monitor.
asserted
Castro → order → monitor
The charges stem from the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man who was shot in the leg.
asserted
who → stem → leg
Moments earlier, Castro and his partner attempted to stop a vehicle.
asserted
Castro → attempt → vehicle
The driver, also a Venezuelan citizen, fled, triggering a foot chase.
asserted
driver → flee → chase
Castro caught up to the driver and a physical struggle ensued, according to the indictment.
uncertain
struggle → catch → indictment
Sosa-Celis attempted to help the driver, and they both fled into a nearby apartment duplex and shut the door.
Castro drew his service weapon and fired a single shot through the front door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, federal prosecutors said.
asserted
prosecutors → attempt → leg
Two 1-year-old children and two women were inside the home when Castro opened fire, prosecutors added.
asserted
prosecutors → open → fire
In an attempt to justify the shooting, Castro allegedly told investigators he was brutally assaulted by multiple individuals wielding tools, claiming he was hit with a broom and a snow shovel during the confrontation.
uncertain
he → justify → confrontation
He also claimed he was on his back when he fired toward the fleeing men, officials said.
asserted
officials → claim → men
However, video evidence later contradicted those statements, prompting an investigation.
asserted
evidence → contradict → investigation
Federal prosecutors said Castro was standing up when he opened fire, and they disputed his claim that he fought the suspect on the ground for three minutes, noting the struggle actually lasted about 11 seconds.
uncertain
struggle → say → seconds
The shooting occurred amid a targeted crackdown on illegal immigration in Minneapolis.
asserted
shooting → occur → Minneapolis
Castro faces separate charges in Minnesota and was previously arrested in Texas in May.
uncertain
Castro → face → May
His case has sparked a legal battle involving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has refused to extradite him to Minnesota.
asserted
who → spark → Minnesota
