On May 13, 2023, in Cameron Park near Brownsville, Texas, 22-year-old Jose Alejandro "Coco" Castillo Villarreal was fatally shot multiple times. Responding to a 4:03 a.m. emergency call, Cameron County Sheriff's deputies discovered Castillo's body at a residence.
The investigation swiftly identified a 16-year-old male suspect who had fled the scene. Deputies apprehended him shortly thereafter, and he was charged with first-degree murder. Initially held at the Darrel B. Hester Juvenile Justice Center in San Benito, the suspect awaited further legal proceedings.
In December 2023, a Cameron County grand jury indicted the suspect, identified as Manuel Faustino Martinez, on charges including murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for threatening two individuals, and deadly conduct for discharging a firearm in the direction of four people, including Castillo. Martinez was subsequently transferred to the Cameron County Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center, with bonds totaling over $500,000. His arraignment was scheduled for late January 2024.
As of the latest available information, the motive behind the shooting remains undisclosed, and the case is still under investigation by authorities.
