In the quiet community of Tolleson, Arizona, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of 55-year-old Maria Castillo. On an early Wednesday morning in August 2017, she was fatally shot in a home in the southwestern part of the city. The violent encounter left another woman in critical condition, though her identity was not publicly released.
The devastating event was further compounded by the presence of three children, ranging in age from 10 to 14, who were in the residence at the time
of the shooting. Miraculously, all three escaped the incident without physical injury, but were left to grapple with the traumatic aftermath.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement identified 44-year-old Jorge Luis Valerio as the primary suspect. Investigators believed Valerio was in a relationship with one of the two women who were shot. Following the incident, a search for Valerio was initiated by the Phoenix police. The motive behind the violent act was not immediately clear, but the focus of the investigation remained on locating and apprehending the suspect.
