By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A man who shot a Del Rio police officer early Sunday will be held in jail without bond, a Val Verde County justice of the peace ordered today.
Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Pat Cole magistrated Eric Anthony Castillo, 37, a resident of Del Rio, about 10:45 a.m. today via a Zoom call between her office and the GEO Correctional Facility where Castillo is being held.
According to a probable cause affidavit on file in the case, Castillo was charged with the offenses of attempted capital murder of a peace office and aggravated assault of a public servant, both first-degree felonies, and three counts of deadly conduct-discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
The affidavit, prepared by DRPD Detective Karina Palacios, reads that she was dispatched to 902 E. 10th St. about 8 a.m. Sunday “in reference to an officer-involved shooting.”
Palacios wrote DRPD Senior Officer Alexis Ramos and DRPD Officer Ruben Robles had earlier been dispatched to the 900 block of East 10th
Street after police received a call “for an active car alarm that was going off continuously.”
The officers reported they found a 2020 white GMC Sierra 2500 parked in the carport adjacent to 902 E. 10th St. The officers noted the truck was unoccupied and its theft alarm was going off.
Palacios wrote Ramos and Robles then went to the front door of the residence and saw “the main door was wide open.”
Palacios wrote the two officers knocked, then announced themselves as police officers before entering the residence to conduct a welfare check.
The detective explained, “This is routine practice in circumstances in which the main door to a residence is left open and additional suspicious circumstances are present, such as that of a continuous vehicle alarm and a call for service from a concerned citizen. . .”
“Officers Ramos and Robles did not receive a reply and proceeded to make entry into the residence to conduct a protective sweep. Officers Ramos and Robles continued to announce their presence as police officers, but received no response,” Palacios wrote.
“As Officers Ramos and Robles approached the main hallway in the residence, they were met by a male subject within the residence restroom pointing a black handgun at them,” the detective wrote.
The “male subject” was later identified as Castillo.
“(Castillo) proceeded to fire several gunshots at Officer Robles and Ramos, striking Officer Ramos in his left upper thigh. Officer Ramos fired back at (Castillo), but (Castillo) was not struck by any gunshots,” Palacios wrote, noting that Castillo “proceeded to retreat into a restroom at the residence,” and “Officer Robles held cover for Ramos as he exited the residence through a window since he was unable to walk back to the front door.”
Castillo then called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers he wanted to leave the house “and did not want to get shot.” A DRPD sergeant called Castillo and instructed him to come out of residence, which he did. Castillo was subsequently taken into custody.
DRPD Chief Frank Ramirez today confirmed that although Castillo’s bullet struck Ramos in the upper thigh, a wallet the officer was carrying prevented the bullet from penetrating the skin.
During his magistration hearing today, Cole advised Castillo of the charges that have been filed against him. She also informed him of his rights, including his right to hire an attorney to represent him and to have that attorney present during any interview or questioning by officers or attorneys representing the state.
“If you cannot afford an attorney, you have the right to request the appointment of an attorney. Do you wish to request a court-appointed attorney, Mr. Castillo?” Cole asked Castillo.
“Yes,” Castillo replied.
She also asked Castillo if he was a citizen of the United States or of another country, and he replied he is a citizen of the United States.
“And do you hereby acknowledge that the warnings I gave you were administered to you in clear language and you fully understood the meaning of each and every warning, is that correct?” Cole asked.
“Yes,” Castillo replied.
Cole completed some forms, then informed Castillo, “Mr. Castillo, in accordance with the law, you will be held with no bond available to you until you go to trial. Do you have any questions about that?”
Castillo replied, “Is there any way I can appeal that?”
“You need to talk to your attorney about that, sir, but at this time, your bail is denied,” Cole responded.
