Federal authorities announced an investigation Friday into immigration officers in Minnesota who appear to have made untruthful statements about a shooting incident in Minneapolis last month. This inquiry follows at least five other shooting cases where initial reports from immigration officials were contradicted by video evidence.
Among those cases are the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, where bystander footage raised significant questions over how authorities initially described the events.
The investigation was initiated shortly after a federal judge dismissed felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men accused of attacking an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, fired a shot that hit one of the men, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, in the leg during a confrontation.
Prosecutors sought to dismiss the case based on new video evidence that contradicted the allegations against the men, indicating substantial discrepancies between the officer's testimony and eyewitness accounts.
List of Controversial Shootings
Following are overviews of the key incidents that have raised public and legal scrutiny:
Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis Non-Fatal Shooting
Date and Location: Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis
Initial Report: Officials claimed the officer was ambushed and fired defensively.
New Evidence: Eyewitness accounts and video disputed the officer's narrative, showcasing inconsistencies in the claims of assault.
Renee Good Fatal Shooting
Date and Location: Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis
Initial Report: Described as an act of terrorism where Good allegedly attempted to run over officers.
New Evidence: Videos depicted Good’s vehicle behavior as less aggressive than described, challenging the officer's version of defensive shooting.
Alex Pretti Fatal Shooting
Date and Location: Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis
Initial Report: Officials claimed Pretti threatened officers with a handgun.
New Evidence: No videos confirmed threat; instead, footage showed him holding a phone during the incident.
Silverio Villegas González Fatal Shooting
Date and Location: Sept. 12, 2025, in Chicago
Initial Report: Allegations that Villegas attempted to run over officers.
New Evidence: Body camera footage contradicted claims of severe injury to the agent, suggesting Villegas was shot at close range.
Marimar Martinez Non-Fatal Shooting
Date and Location: Oct. 14, 2025, in Chicago
Initial Report: Martinez was labeled a domestic terrorist for allegedly pursuing a Border Patrol vehicle.
New Evidence: Emerging videos indicated potential misconduct by the officer involved, ultimately leading to the dismissal of charges against Martinez.
The ongoing investigation raises concerns over the actions of immigration officials and their impact on public safety and trust in law enforcement.
