PORT ARANSAS, Texas – A 17-year-old suspect from San Antonio accused in the Port Aransas beach shooting that sent five people to the hospital made his first court appearance Monday, where his total bond was set at $500,000.
Ernesto Josiah Castillo is facing five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Nueces County court records. The cases were filed Sunday in the 214th District Court as pre-file felony charges.
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Officers with the Port Aransas Police Department responded just after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday to reports of gunfire near an area known as “Hole 20.”
When officers arrived, they found five people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police said a preliminary investigation indicates an altercation broke out between two groups on the beach. During the confrontation, police said Castillo pulled a gun and opened fire on a crowd of people on the beach while he was driving away in a black Chevy pickup truck, according to an arrest report obtained by KRIS TV.
The arrest report goes on to say that Castillo and two other males were pulled over by Corpus Christi Police shortly after the shooting. Investigators found shell casings matching a Glock .45 caliber handgun found inside the truck.
The driver of the truck told police that Castillo fired several shots into the crowd of people as they were driving away.
All five victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Two are in critical condition, while the others suffered serious injuries.
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During Monday’s hearing, Judge Melissa Madrigal set Castillo’s bond at $100,000 on each count. Court records also show an attorney was appointed to represent him.