Suspect shot in April booked into jail

Michael Castillo, 37, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of prohibited possessor of a gun and one count of unlawful possession of narcotics in connection with the April 11 shooting, Sgt. Pete Dugan, a spokesman for the Tucson Police Department, said in a news release.

Castillo has been receiving medical treatment for the last five months as a result of the shooting.

On the night of the shooting, police officers were preparing to serve a search warrant at Castillo’s apartment in the 2600 block of North 14th Avenue in connection with suspected drug crimes. The apartment is near North Oracle and West Grant roads.

Sgt. Christopher Dennison and Officer David Schneider saw Castillo leave his apartment. Officers decided to detain him in the parking lot of the complex pending the search, according to a report from the Pima County Attorney’s Office, which deemed the shooting justified.

Castillo was in the parking lot talking to two men when several officers approached the trio. Castillo ran through the apartment complex, with Dennison, Schneider and a third officer chasing him.

During the chase Castillo turned toward the officers, pointed a gun at them and fired a shot. Dennison and Schneider returned fire, wounding Castillo.

“While Mr. Castillo was on the ground, Officer Schneider could see Mr. Castillo reaching toward the gun on the ground. Officer Schneider fired at Mr. Castillo again” before kicking the gun out of reach, Kellie Johnson, chief criminal deputy for the county attorney, wrote in a letter clearing the officers.

Castillo told detectives later that “he never liked the police,” Johnson said.

Castillo told them a family member had been shot and killed by a Tucson police officer in 2012 and “he wanted to retaliate for that shooting by killing a police officer. He admitted to shooting at the officers and stated that he ‘thought it would be his chance to kill a cop,’ ” Johnson wrote.

On Sept. 15, 2012, a Tucson police officer shot and killed Johnny Castillo-Romero at a south-side apartment complex. Castillo-Romero was related to Castillo, Dugan said.

Police responded to the complex after a man called 911 to report Castillo-Romero had shot at him during an argument. When an officer arrived, Castillo-Romero, who was in a wheelchair, pointed a gun at him and was shot and killed.

That shooting was deemed justified as well.