On a Tuesday night in Syracuse, New York, the life of 40-year-old Joseph Castillo was cut short by gunfire. Around 11 p.m. on October 14, 2025, police responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Midland Avenue and West Brighton Avenue. Upon arrival, they found Castillo suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head, arm, and back.
He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital, but the severity of his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide quickly pointed to a suspect. Syracuse police identified 41-year-old Lakeeyah May as the individual allegedly responsible for Castillo's death. She was located and taken into custody without incident on West Brighton Avenue, not far from where the shooting had occurred. Near the scene of the crime, officers also discovered a red pickup truck that had crashed into a utility pole.
Following her apprehension, Lakeeyah May was charged with second-degree murder. She is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center awaiting arraignment. While an arrest has been made, the Syracuse Police Department has stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing. They have urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact their Criminal Investigations Division.
