Armando Castillo, a 37-year-old resident of Victorville, California, tragically lost his life on July 12, 2017. The incident occurred early in the morning when Castillo was found with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was discovered on Boulder Creek Road, but it was later determined that the shooting actually took place on Soft Cloud Way. Castillo's friends had driven him to the home of an acquaintance on Boulder Creek Road, where they sought medical aid and contacted the authorities.
Despite being rushed to Desert Valley Hospital, Castillo succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The investigation into Castillo's death led to the arrest of two suspects. Michael Paul Bauman, 44, and Jermaine Tyrone Lang, 31, both residents of Victorville, were apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting. Detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Gang Enforcement team identified Bauman as a suspect and arrested him on July 17 at a home in Riverside. Lang, believed to be the shooter, was arrested by the gang team on a subsequent Saturday in Victorville. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
Prosecutors charged Bauman with multiple offenses, including murder, carjacking, being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm, vehicle theft, receiving a stolen vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm. Bauman pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied several felony allegations. He remains in custody at the Central Detention Center in Rialto with a bail set at $2 million. His next court date was scheduled for September 26, 2017. Lang was also arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into the West Valley Detention Center, where he remains in custody with a bail set at $1 million. His first court appearance was scheduled for the following Wednesday.
The case has drawn significant attention, and authorities continue to seek information from the public to aid in their investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Homicide Detail of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The community remains hopeful that justice will be served for Armando Castillo and his family.
