In the quiet city of Ellensburg, Washington, a tragic and violent event unfolded on the afternoon of March 15, 2024, ending the life of 21-year-old Christian Guthrie, a White / Caucasian male. The incident occurred around 12:14 p.m. at a Jack in the Box restaurant located on West University Way, a place frequented by locals and near the Central Washington University campus. Guthrie, an Ellensburg resident, was sitting in his car when the peaceful afternoon was shattered by the sound of gunfire.
When Ellensburg Police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Guthrie inside his vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Also in the car were a 15-year-old male and a 2-year-old male, who were both fortunately unharmed in the attack. Emergency services transported Guthrie to KVH Hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The Kittitas County Coroner later confirmed that the cause of death was the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained. Guthrie himself was not a student at the nearby university.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a suspect, initially identified only as a 17-year-old male. Due to his status as a minor, his name and photograph were not immediately released to the public. Investigators began to piece together a motive, believing the shooting was an act of retaliation. It is thought that the suspect, Benny Castizo, was offended by social media messages that Guthrie had posted. Authorities have also indicated that both men may have had connections to rival gangs.
For months, the suspect remained at large, having fled Ellensburg immediately after the incident and hiding out in Western Washington. On August 6, 2024, the search came to an end when the now 18-year-old Benny Castizo was apprehended by police in Kent. Despite being 17 at the time of the shooting, Castizo was charged as an adult in Kittitas County Superior Court. Following his arrest, he was expected to be extradited from King County to face the charges against him. The legal process moved forward, and after a trial, Benny Lee Castizo was found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Christian Guthrie.
