Joe Louis Castillanos, 38
Houston, Texas
May 25, 2020
Agencies: Harris County District Attorney's Office Texas | Houston Police Department Texas | Texas Department of Public Safety
Cause of death: Shooting
Last updated: almost 4 years ago
Overview 
38 year-old Joe Louis Castillanos was killed in an officer-involved shooting after he allegedly pointed a gun to them on Houston's south side.
According to Houston police, at around 1:27 a.m. officers responded to an urgent call of an emotional man who had been drinking and had a gun
HPD patrol officers responded to a suicide threat with a weapon/welfare check call at the above address. According to the caller, her husband, Castillanos, was armed with a gun, was highly emotional, and had just discharged the weapon.
Upon arrival, the officers observed Castillanos walking eastbound on the sidewalk in the 6500 block of Capridge Drive with a semi-automatic handgun in his right hand. Officers said gave him numerous verbal commands to drop the weapon, which Castillanos ignored and instead fired a shot into the ground. According to police, Castillanos then turned towards the officers and raised the gun in their direction. The three officers discharged their duty weapons, striking Castillanos.
As is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents within the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.