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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.
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. He turned himself in to authorities Thursday evening.
A judge ordered Castro released on a $75,000 unsecured bond and required him to wear an ankle monitor.
DOJ CHARGES ICE OFFICER WITH LYING TO INVESTIGATORS FOLLOWING MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING OF VENEZUELAN MAN
The charges stem from the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man who was shot in the leg. Moments earlier, Castro and his partner attempted to stop a vehicle.
The driver, also a Venezuelan citizen, fled, triggering a foot chase.
Castro caught up to the driver and a physical struggle ensued, according to the indictment. Sosa-Celis attempted to help the driver, and they both fled into a nearby apartment duplex and shut the door.
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Castro drew his service weapon and fired a single shot through the front door, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg, federal prosecutors said.
Two 1-year-old children and two women were inside the home when Castro opened fire, prosecutors added.
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. He also claimed he was on his back when he fired toward the fleeing men, officials said.
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However, video evidence later contradicted those statements, prompting an 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.
The shooting occurred amid a targeted crackdown on illegal immigration in Minneapolis.
Castro faces separate charges in Minnesota and was previously arrested in Texas in May.
ICE OFFICER CHARGED IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING RELEASED IN TEXAS AFTER JUDGE DECLINES TO INTERVENE
His case has sparked a legal battle involving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has refused to extradite him to Minnesota.
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