In the early hours of April 2, 2024, a quiet residence in Columbia, South Carolina, became the scene of a tragic event. Mario Montecinos Ramos, a 25-year-old Hispanic man, was fatally shot while he was asleep in his home located in the 8500 block of Old Percival Road. The Richland County Sheriff's Department responded to a call about the shooting at approximately 1 a.m.
and found Montecinos Ramos deceased at the scene.
Living in the house with four other individuals, Montecinos Ramos was a roommate to the man who would be accused of his murder. The other residents of the home were awakened by the sound of gunfire. According to reports from the sheriff's department, they acted swiftly, restraining the alleged shooter and taking possession of the firearm until law enforcement arrived. Their quick thinking ensured that no one else was harmed during the incident.
The individual taken into custody at the scene was identified as 18-year-old Amadeo Lopez-Castillo, another resident of the home. Following an investigation by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, Lopez-Castillo was arrested and faced serious charges. He was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. After his arrest, he was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
While an arrest was made, the motive behind the shooting was not immediately released by the authorities. The case was set to proceed through the judicial system, with a court date scheduled for Lopez-Castillo in June 2024. Following his death, arrangements were made for Mario Montecinos Ramos's body to be returned to his family in Guatemala.
