Family Assails Deputies Over Youth’s Slaying

The family of a Lynwood teenager who was shot to death by sheriff’s deputies after he wounded two officers with a shotgun said Monday that authorities delayed medical attention for the youth and fired at him after he had tried to surrender.

The Sheriff’s Department said, however, that Julio Castillo, 16, could not be given medical attention because he was hiding under an embankment, behind bushes, and was still armed with a shotgun. Other witnesses have corroborated the deputies’ statement, sheriff’s officials said.

After Julio fired twice at sheriff’s deputies early Sunday, the department’s Special Enforcement Bureau was called in to apprehend the youth. But the teenager was later found dead.

“He had verbally mentioned [to other people] that he was going to kill a cop,” said Deputy Angie Prewett. “Would you go up to him without the proper protection?”

But Julio’s family members say that a neighbor who observed the shooting told them that the youth was shot again after he was already injured and was waving his hands signaling that he was giving up. The witness also told them that authorities delayed medical care.

“Even in war there is compassion for enemy soldier,” said Jose Santos, Julio’s grandfather, as he showed some of his grandson’s photos in his Lynwood home. “Why none for my grandson?”

Santos said that about 2 a.m. Sunday, Julio had a heated verbal discussion with his mother in her Lynwood apartment. She told him to leave and he lost his temper and began yelling. His mother called sheriff’s deputies.

Castillo’s mother “called them so that they could subdue him, not kill him,” said Santos.

Prewett said that when deputies arrived in the 3700 block of Fernwood Avenue they saw Julio near an embankment next to the Century Freeway. He was holding a shotgun in one hand. With the other hand, he was holding a young woman by the neck, sheriff’s officials said.

“[The] deputies’ perception was that she was being held as a hostage,” Deputy Bob Killeen said.

Sgt. Vincent Callier said that Julio started firing at deputies, prompting them to return fire. One deputy was hit in the side of the face with shotgun pellets. He was treated at a local hospital and released. The other deputy was hit in the chest, but was not seriously injured because he was wearing a protective vest, Callier said.

Callier said that the young woman managed to escape from Julio.

But Araceli Pena, 17, who said that she was with Julio, told a different story. She said she was simply trying to calm her boyfriend down and was not a hostage.

Julio was extremely angry, Araceli said, and she was trying to take the shotgun away from him.

Araceli said that after Julio was shot in the shoulder, he dropped his weapon and was trying to surrender.

“He put his hands up in the air,” Araceli said. “I was screaming at [deputies] that he was shot and couldn’t get up.”

Prewett said that even if Araceli was trying to calm Julio down, “he gave no indication of turning himself in.”