Suspect Who Killed Ex-Samohi Student In Custody

SANTA MONICA, CA — A suspect has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a former Santa Monica High School student, police said Friday.

Juan Castillo, 18, was found with a gunshot wound to the head just after 5 a.m. Feb. 26, lying on the ground in the 1300 block of 16th Street, near the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, Santa Monica police Lt. Saul Rodriguez said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police determined Castillo was shot in the 2100 block of Pico Boulevard and walked toward the medical center where he died.

On Friday, detectives identified Sherwin Mendoza Espinosa, 42, of Los Angeles as the suspected shooter. He has been charged with murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police did not disclose how they were able to connect Espinosa to the crime. He is being held at the county jail on $3 million bail.

When he was taken into custody, Espinosa was found in possession of an Uzi 9mm semi-automatic pistol, similar to the weapon used to kill Castillo, SMPD police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said at the press conference Friday.

The investigation was ongoing and anyone with information was encouraged to contact Detective Cooper (310) 458-8478; Detective Leone (310) 458-8949; or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.

Photo courtesy of the SMPD