In the late hours of Friday, October 27, 2023, the life of 32-year-old Jennifer Castro, a Hispanic female from Yakima, Washington, was tragically cut short. What began as a festive evening at a Halloween party with her boyfriend, 31-year-old Carsen Casey, and a friend, ended in a fatal shooting at a residence in the 1300 block of South 11th Avenue.
The group had been drinking at the party before returning to the home.
Once back at the house, Castro and Casey were in the kitchen area when a single gunshot shattered the night. According to the friend present, he heard the shot and then witnessed Casey holding a gun as Castro stumbled into the living room and collapsed. A frantic 911 call was made, initially reporting an accidental shooting. Both Casey and his friend attempted to render aid by performing CPR, but their efforts were in vain. Jennifer Castro was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound.
When Yakima Police officers arrived, they found Casey and his friend in the home with Castro on the floor. Following an initial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Carsen Casey was arrested. He is currently facing a charge of first-degree manslaughter and is being held in the Yakima County jail. The couple had two children together who were fortunately not present at the time of the incident, as they were out of town. The investigation by the Yakima Police Department is ongoing as they continue to piece together the events that led to this tragic loss of life.
