DOJ drops charges after ICE agents admit false statements in Minneapolis shooting case

Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss criminal charges against two Venezuelan men connected to a Minneapolis incident in which one of them was shot in the leg by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent — a dramatic turn after ICE acknowledged federal agents made false statements under oath.

The case stems from a January confrontation outside a home in Minneapolis. Attorneys for Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna say he was working as a DoorDash driver when he realized he was being followed by ICE agents. After returning home, he was tackled, broke free, and ran toward the house where his cousin, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, was near the door. Sosa-Celis says he was shot in the leg as he tried to shut and lock the door.

Soon after the incident, the Department of Homeland Security released an account claiming Sosa-Celis was driving and that the men assaulted an officer before the agent fired a “defensive shot.” But a later Justice Department filing asserted Aljorna was driving, raising early questions about the federal narrative.

On Thursday, the Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the charges, citing “newly discovered evidence” that contradicts claims previously presented in court. In a separate statement, ICE Director Todd Lyons said a review of video evidence revealed the agents involved made “untruthful statements.” Both agents have been placed on administrative leave while the Justice Department investigates, and officials said the officers could be fired and potentially face criminal prosecution.

The decision to dismiss the charges with prejudice means the case cannot be refiled. Legal analysts note such a move is rare and adds to broader concerns about conflicting or incomplete initial accounts following federal law enforcement shootings.

The Minneapolis incident occurred shortly after another high-profile case involving a fatal shooting by a federal agent in the area, prompting renewed protests and scrutiny over the credibility of early government statements compared with later-emerging video evidence.

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