Ernie Castillo, 19, was killed in Tucson on June 30, 2026, after a late-night altercation near South Sixth Avenue and West Columbia Street. Police responded about 11:15 p.m. to reports of a shooting and found Castillo with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

The incident began when a man sleeping in his car was awakened. That man, 30-year-old Kendall Harris, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Witnesses and Harris offer sharply different accounts. A witness said Castillo tried to walk away, was pursued, forced to the ground and shot in the head while no longer fighting. Harris told officers he was awakened by a noise, found Castillo armed with a shotgun and a hammer, fired a warning shot into the ground, then struggled with Castillo and shot him after believing Castillo was reaching for another weapon. Harris called 9-1-1 after the shooting.

Investigators are working to reconcile the conflicting stories and the physical evidence. Does anyone have information about what happened that night or saw activity near South Sixth Avenue and West Columbia Street around 11:15 p.m. on June 30?