Moriarty says Castro, not Sosa-Celis, “committed” the violent crime that night
Hennepin County Attorney, at a news conference announcing the charges
“A violent crime did occur that night, but it was Mr. Castro who committed it. He shot through the door of a home with many people, including children, inside, while fortunately missing several others. Mr. Castro is an ICE agent, but his federal badge does not make him immune from state charges for his criminal conduct in Minnesota.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
KARE 11's report of Moriarty's May 18, 2026 news conference announcing the charges, read in full on 2026-09-22. It quotes Moriarty saying Castro's "federal badge does not make him immune from state charges" and that Sosa-Celis and Aljorna "were here lawfully."
Official statement
About this source
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office's release, read in full on 2026-09-22, announcing four felony second-degree-assault counts and one misdemeanor false-reporting count against Castro, filed jointly with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. It quotes the Hennepin County Attorney's Office's own press release directly, including its statement that the DHS release "along with its dozens of false statements, remains on the DHS website."
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Moriarty's office, with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, filed four second-degree assault counts and one false-reporting count against Castro that day, alleging he was not attacked and fired through the closed door while alone in the yard.
After the quotation
Moriarty said Castro would not be eligible for a presidential pardon if convicted in state court, since the charges are under state law. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott subsequently refused to extradite Castro from Texas.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: Castro was not attacked with any shovel, broom or other weapon. He was standing alone in the front yard when he drew his weapon and fired a single shot through the closed front door of the home, after Sosa-Celis and Aljorna had already gone inside.
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case’s fixed reference point is whether Officer Christian Castro’s decision to fire his weapon during the January 14, 2026 encounter with Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was justified. Moriarty expressly says Castro, not the men he shot at, committed the violent crime that night, and rejects the idea that his federal role excuses his conduct. That is a direct condemnation of the shooting.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- Christian Castro
Was ICE Officer Christian Castro Justified in Shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Nobody is above the law, including ICE agents. The State of Minnesota must hold people accountable for violating the law and for harming Minnesotans. I support the filing of these charges, and I am working closely with Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty to ensure we reach a just outcome here.”Read statement
Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma
“Gabriel's life has been turned upside down by ICE's actions in Minnesota. The district court order finding his detention unlawful and ordering his release, along with the decision to dismiss charges against his neighbors, vindicates the unjustness of his arrest, detention, and the deliberate smearing of his name and broadcasting of his photo along with unfounded allegations, but it doesn't give him back the weeks he spent in detention. We look forward to further investigation into this matter and hope that those responsible face consequences.”Read statement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
“A joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements. Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation….The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these false statements.”Read statement