Phoenix man arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting cousin

Nathan J. Fish | The Republic | azcentral.com

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Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the date of arrest. Police took Alejandro Castillo into custody on Friday.

A Phoenix man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting his 19-year-old cousin during an argument, according to police records.

Alejandro Castillo, 26, was arrested Friday after a witness told police Castillo shot his cousin, records showed.

Phoenix Fire Department crews arrived at a home near Indian School Road and 16th Street in Phoenix around 9:30 a.m. Friday, and found a man shot in the head. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to records, which include a probable cause statement submitted to the court by Phoenix police.

Police initially investigated the man's death as a possible suicide, but other factors led them to question Castillo, records say.

When interviewed by police, Castillo said he was in another room with the door closed when the shooting occurred, records show.

However, a witness who was inside the home at the time came to police and said that Castillo and the cousin were arguing in the kitchen over money and drugs, records show.

The cousin went into his bedroom and returned with a loaded handgun, records show. The witness told police that Castillo didn't trust his cousin with the gun and said he was going to take it from him.

Castillo and the cousin moved into the kitchen, exchanging words in hushed tones when Castillo put his hand on the gun's grip leading to a struggle for the weapon, records show.

The witness said he lost sight of the gun but heard it go off and saw the man drop to the floor. Castillo repeatedly said he didn't mean to shoot his cousin, the witness told police.

Castillo was charged with one count of second-degree murder and is due in court on Friday.

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