On April 9, 2025, four-year-old Hispanic male Jrako Alexander Castillo tragically lost his life in a shooting incident at a residence on the 2900 block of East Bates Street in Lubbock, Texas. Emergency responders arrived at the scene following a report of shots fired at approximately 5:21 p.m. They found the child with a gunshot wound and administered first aid before transporting him to University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to initial reports, Jrako
was in a bedroom with his mother, Samantha Castillo, her four children, and 25-year-old Isaiah Holland, who was visiting at the time. Samantha stated that she and Holland were lying on the bed when she heard a gunshot. She found Jrako at the foot of the bed, injured. A five-year-old girl present in the room later told a forensic interviewer that her mother and Holland were asleep with a gun between them and that Jrako accidentally shot himself with Holland's firearm.
Following the incident, Holland fled the scene. Law enforcement officers from the Lubbock Texas Anti-Gang Unit apprehended him later that day near the intersection of 45th Street and Avenue P. During a foot chase, Holland discarded a. 22 caliber handgun, which was recovered by officers. Holland admitted to leaving the gun on the bed, from which Jrako allegedly picked it up, leading to the accidental discharge. Panicking, Holland took the weapon and fled the house.
A Lubbock County grand jury indicted Holland on charges of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, for removing the firearm from the scene. He remains in custody at the Lubbock County Detention Center, with bond set at $250,000.
Jrako Alexander Castillo was born on March 20, 2021, to Jared Ramirez and Samantha Castillo. He was remembered as a joyful and energetic child who loved Spiderman, playing with his siblings and cousin, and enjoying pizza and candy. A Celebration of Life service was held on April 24, 2025, at St. John Baptist Church, followed by interment at the City of Lubbock Cemetery.
