Court Documents Reveal More Details About Monday’s Shooting

August 4, 2023 at 6:03 p.m.

By JACKIE GORSKI Lifestyles Editor

Gang signs allegedly were thrown up during a confrontation that led to Monday night’s shootout near Porter and Columbia streets in Warsaw.


 

David Castillejo Jr., 22, of 422 W. Porter St., Warsaw, is charged with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony; pointing a firearm, a level 6 felony; and unlawful carrying of a handgun, a class A misdemeanor.Castillejo was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:41 a.m. Tuesday on a $10,250 preliminary bond.



Jose Avilla

 

Jose Avila Jr., 21, of 221 N. Columbia St., apt. E, Warsaw, is charged with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; criminal organization activity, a level 6 felony; criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony; and pointing a firearm, a level 6 felony.He was booked into KCJ at 10:45 p.m. Monday on a $10,250 preliminary bond.

According to the probable cause affidavit, at approximately 7:16 p.m. Monday, Kosciusko County Dispatch advised Warsaw Police Department of shots fired in the area of Columbia and Porter streets, Warsaw. Dispatch further said one suspect, later identified as Castillejo, was in the 400 block of Porter Street and the second suspect, later identified as Avila, ran through the alley behind Main Street.

A WPD officer responded to the area, saw multiple suspects outside and Castillejo yelled he go shot at, so he shot back because someone was still in his car. Castillejo said Avila shot at him.

The officer located a Glock 19X firearm Castillejo allegedly used to fire at Avila on the sidewalk.

Castillejo said a woman requested help with two Hispanic males, one of them being Avila, who used their hands to throw up gang signs. Castillejo, a second woman and a man drove one vehicle while three other people drove a second vehicle to the residence on Columbia Street to confront Avila and the other man.

As the vehicles approached the residence, the man that was with Avila went inside, according to court documents.

Castillejo attempted to speak with Avila. Avila backed into the residence and Castillejo drove around the block back to the residence. Avila and the man that was with him walked toward the street and the woman in Castillejo’s car yelled Avila had a gun.

Castillejo said he sped away and heard two gun shots. A third shot hit Castillejo’s vehicle.

Castillejo stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets and grabbed his gun. He then said he heard a fourth gun shot from Avila, who allegedly hid behind a tree as the man that was with Avila ran across the street.

Castillejo fired at Avila and the other man approximately four or five times and then drove his vehicle to a residence on Porter Street.

An officer saw a large dent or hole from a bullet that ricocheted off Castillejo’s vehicle

A Winona Lake Police Department officer arrived to assist, attempted to locate the spent shell casings from Castillejo’s handgun and the woman that was in Castillejo’s vehicle said she picked up three spent shell casings from the scene. The officer collected three spent shell casings, two magazines and one extended magazine and a holster for evidence, according to court documents.

WPD officers arrived at the scene and located Avila walking around Main and Columbia streets. He was taken to KCJ.

Avila declined to speak with officers. He said he did not know what the officers were talking about and he never had a gun.

A WPD detective talked with the man that was with Avila and he said he was outside of a residence on Columbia Street with Avila when Castillejo’s vehicle drove by. Avila then pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the vehicle. The man ran across the street to get away from Avila and hide. Castillejo stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets and shot at the man and Avila. The man said Avila had a gun and was the shooter during the incident.

The woman who asked for Castillejo’s help said she and another person drove by a residence on Columbia Street and Avila used his hands to throw up gang signs.

The two vehicles full of people drove to the residence. Castillejo then circled his vehicle around the block and drove by the residence. Then the woman heard gun shots and saw Castillejo stop his vehicle at the intersection and the woman heard more gun shots.

Offices documented the scene of the shooting and reviewed security surveillance video from the area. Officers saw a vehicle driven by Castillejo drive down Columbia Street and stop in front of a residence on the street. The vehicle then left abruptly, according to court documents. There was also a woman and child on a bike riding down Fort Wayne Street near the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets when the shooting took place, according to court documents.

In another video, officers saw a vehicle driven by Castillejo speed away from the residence as about two shots are fired. A third shot was fired, followed by two more shots.



Gang signs allegedly were thrown up during a confrontation that led to Monday night’s shootout near Porter and Columbia streets in Warsaw.


 

David Castillejo Jr., 22, of 422 W. Porter St., Warsaw, is charged with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony; pointing a firearm, a level 6 felony; and unlawful carrying of a handgun, a class A misdemeanor.Castillejo was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:41 a.m. Tuesday on a $10,250 preliminary bond.



Jose Avilla

 

Jose Avila Jr., 21, of 221 N. Columbia St., apt. E, Warsaw, is charged with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; criminal organization activity, a level 6 felony; criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony; and pointing a firearm, a level 6 felony.He was booked into KCJ at 10:45 p.m. Monday on a $10,250 preliminary bond.

According to the probable cause affidavit, at approximately 7:16 p.m. Monday, Kosciusko County Dispatch advised Warsaw Police Department of shots fired in the area of Columbia and Porter streets, Warsaw. Dispatch further said one suspect, later identified as Castillejo, was in the 400 block of Porter Street and the second suspect, later identified as Avila, ran through the alley behind Main Street.

A WPD officer responded to the area, saw multiple suspects outside and Castillejo yelled he go shot at, so he shot back because someone was still in his car. Castillejo said Avila shot at him.

The officer located a Glock 19X firearm Castillejo allegedly used to fire at Avila on the sidewalk.

Castillejo said a woman requested help with two Hispanic males, one of them being Avila, who used their hands to throw up gang signs. Castillejo, a second woman and a man drove one vehicle while three other people drove a second vehicle to the residence on Columbia Street to confront Avila and the other man.

As the vehicles approached the residence, the man that was with Avila went inside, according to court documents.

Castillejo attempted to speak with Avila. Avila backed into the residence and Castillejo drove around the block back to the residence. Avila and the man that was with him walked toward the street and the woman in Castillejo’s car yelled Avila had a gun.

Castillejo said he sped away and heard two gun shots. A third shot hit Castillejo’s vehicle.

Castillejo stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets and grabbed his gun. He then said he heard a fourth gun shot from Avila, who allegedly hid behind a tree as the man that was with Avila ran across the street.

Castillejo fired at Avila and the other man approximately four or five times and then drove his vehicle to a residence on Porter Street.

An officer saw a large dent or hole from a bullet that ricocheted off Castillejo’s vehicle

A Winona Lake Police Department officer arrived to assist, attempted to locate the spent shell casings from Castillejo’s handgun and the woman that was in Castillejo’s vehicle said she picked up three spent shell casings from the scene. The officer collected three spent shell casings, two magazines and one extended magazine and a holster for evidence, according to court documents.

WPD officers arrived at the scene and located Avila walking around Main and Columbia streets. He was taken to KCJ.

Avila declined to speak with officers. He said he did not know what the officers were talking about and he never had a gun.

A WPD detective talked with the man that was with Avila and he said he was outside of a residence on Columbia Street with Avila when Castillejo’s vehicle drove by. Avila then pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the vehicle. The man ran across the street to get away from Avila and hide. Castillejo stopped his vehicle at the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets and shot at the man and Avila. The man said Avila had a gun and was the shooter during the incident.

The woman who asked for Castillejo’s help said she and another person drove by a residence on Columbia Street and Avila used his hands to throw up gang signs.

The two vehicles full of people drove to the residence. Castillejo then circled his vehicle around the block and drove by the residence. Then the woman heard gun shots and saw Castillejo stop his vehicle at the intersection and the woman heard more gun shots.

Offices documented the scene of the shooting and reviewed security surveillance video from the area. Officers saw a vehicle driven by Castillejo drive down Columbia Street and stop in front of a residence on the street. The vehicle then left abruptly, according to court documents. There was also a woman and child on a bike riding down Fort Wayne Street near the intersection of Columbia and Porter streets when the shooting took place, according to court documents.

In another video, officers saw a vehicle driven by Castillejo speed away from the residence as about two shots are fired. A third shot was fired, followed by two more shots.



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