On October 9, 2024, 16-year-old Joel Castillo was shot and killed at an apartment complex on San Antonio’s west side near San Carlos Street and Agatha Street. The shooting began after an argument with a 14-year-old neighbor with whom Castillo reportedly had a long-running feud; the younger teen allegedly taunted Castillo about his mother, who had died in a car accident in February 2024. Witnesses say the dispute became physical and that the 14-year-old produced a gun and shot Castillo multiple times. Joel’s father, who was at the scene, tried to intervene. Joel was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and died less than two hours later; the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.

San Antonio police arrested a 14-year-old the morning of October 10, 2024; the teen was charged with murder but his identity has not been released because of his age. At a detention hearing on October 11, a probation officer said the suspect was already on probation for an earlier charge and had failed drug tests while on probation. Judge William Cruz Shaw ordered the teen to remain in custody until a later hearing. Joel’s family mourned him, noting this came after the loss of his mother earlier in 2024.

Does anyone have information about what led to the feud between these families or about the events at the apartment that night?