Death deemed a homicide - San Jose Mercury News
8/7/08 8:52 PM
Death deemed a homicide
MAN DIED IN AREA BESET BY GANGS
By Mark Gomez and Jessie Mangaliman Mercury News Article Launched: 07/29/2008 01:32:56 AM PDT
resident Ray Moreno, who has lived in the neighborhood since the 1960s. "We've always worried that one day we might have a drive-by shooting in that area." Moreno knew Castillo, nicknamed "Junior," and his parents. The Guadalupe/Washington Neighborhood Association has lobbied the city to install additional street lights near the corner, said association President Eric Hernandez. "I don't want to paint a negative picture of our neighborhood," Hernandez said. "My hope is this will bring attention to the area and make residents aware." Anyone with information can contact Sgt. Dave Tindall or Sgt. Mike Knox of the San Jose Police Department's Homicide Unit at (408) 277-5283. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.
San Jose police Monday provided limited details about a homicide that occurred two weeks ago in a neighborhood just south of downtown that's beset by gang-related problems. On July 10, around 4:15 p.m., police responded to reports of "a person down" at the corner of West Virginia and Locust streets, according to officer Jermaine Thomas. The victim, Adolfo Castillo, 53, of San Jose, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators initially treated the incident as a death investigation, which is protocol any time police respond to a death not involving an immediately obvious medical issue. Death investigations "can go from accident to natural cause," to homicide, Thomas said. After further investigation, police determined Castillo's death to be a homicide. Police are not revealing any details about the cause of death or the investigation. There have been 20 homicides in San Jose this year. Residents who live in the neighborhood said they have complained for years about groups of men, some in gang colors, who congregate behind a store near the corner of Virginia and Locust streets. The men drink and urinate in public, residents said. "Something was bound to happen there," said
Advertisement
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10030260
Page 1 of 1