In the early hours of a Sunday morning in York, Pennsylvania, a street altercation turned fatal for 22-year-old Lester Cortes-Cotto. On July 9, 2017, police were initially called to the first block of East Maple Street for a report of shots fired. While they were investigating, Cortes-Cotto arrived at a local hospital in a private vehicle. He was suffering from what the York County Coroner's office would later determine to be multiple sharp force injuries, not gunshot wounds.
Despite medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Cortes-Cotto's death quickly led authorities to two brothers, 35-year-old Juan Castro-Oquendo and 31-year-old Jose Castro-Oquendo. The two were apprehended two days later, on a Tuesday morning, at an apartment on the 900 block of East Market Street by York City Police and the U.S. Fugitive Task Force. Both brothers were subsequently charged with criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide.
As the case progressed through the legal system, it was revealed that the deadly confrontation stemmed from a perceived slight. Authorities stated that the attack on Cortes-Cotto was initiated after Jose Castro-Oquendo felt 'disrespected' by a look from him. During the ensuing struggle, a gun that had been in Cortes-Cotto's waistband was reportedly fired.
Ultimately, the charges against Juan Castro-Oquendo, the older brother, were dropped. Prosecutors cited a key witness's refusal to cooperate as the reason for this decision. In September 2018, Jose 'Menor' Castro-Oquendo pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped the more severe charges of first- and third-degree homicide. He was scheduled for sentencing the following month.
