Julio Castaneda, 33, a male, was one of two people killed when gunfire erupted late on the night of September 18, 2025, in the 1900 block of D Street in Antioch. Officers responding to multiple 10:21 p.m. reports of shots fired found four victims; two men died at the scene while a 36-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were rushed to hospitals, the teen in critical condition.
Detectives with the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau took over, sealing the block as evidence technicians worked under floodlights to document shell casings and canvass for witnesses.
Days later, the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner identified the deceased as Castaneda, of Oakley, and 42-year-old Thomas Vega Espinoza. Local reporting emphasized that both men were innocent bystanders caught in the burst of violence, a detail that deepened the sense of shock among family and neighbors. At a curbside memorial of candles and flowers, relatives described Castaneda as a devoted family man, struggling to grasp how a routine evening ended in sudden loss.
Authorities have not announced any arrests. Early statements listed the suspects as unknown, and police appealed to the public for tips while urging anyone with information to contact Detective John Cox. As the community mourned, follow-up coverage reiterated the timeline and location, noting the attack near D Street and West 19th Street, and confirming that the two surviving victims were stabilized and being treated. The investigation remains active, with detectives examining evidence and gathering witness accounts to determine who fired the shots that killed Castaneda and Espinoza.
