Anthony Castro: Horrific bodycam footage shows Phoenix cop fatally shoot man who allegedly killed wife
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: A disturbing body camera footage captured the moment an officer shot and killed a man after he allegedly fatally stabbed his wife at a Phoenix home on March 6, 2023. The stabbing victim, identified as 40-year-old Monica Castro, died after being taken to the hospital, and attacker Anthony Castro, 40, was declared dead at the scene.
Phoenix police responded to a 911 call about an attack on women. "There is a woman stabbed. Two women," the 911 caller reports. "Two females, they’re stabbed inside of the house." In the 911 conversation, children can be overheard being yelled at to go inside by the woman. The recorded audio and the graphic footage can be viewed on AZ Family.
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What did the 911 caller report?
After screaming at the kids to enter the home, the 911 caller continued by telling the responding officer what she knew. "OK, who stabbed them?" the dispatcher asked. "I don’t know, she said about the guy stopped stabbing them," she detailed.
What happened on March 6?
On March 6, Phoenix police officers investigated a fatal domestic violence case in a Laveen neighborhood. According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded to numerous domestic violence calls shortly before 6.pm and upon arrival discovered an elderly woman lying injured outside the home and being led away.
Police discovered a woman in the house, who later turned out to be the suspect's wife, Monica Castro, who had suffered severe stab wounds as the suspect held a knife in each hand. An officer issued several commands before shooting the suspect, who has since been identified as 40-year-old Anthony Castro, as reported by AZ Family.
What did the bodycam video capture?
Two cops can be seen in the video entering the house and discovering a woman on the ground in the path of the door. "Crawl outside! Crawl outside," one officer screams to the woman. "It looks like three people were stabbed inside, they’re bleeding a lot," the other officer tells. The police instruct people to crawl outside as they seek cover behind a truck. "Where is the dad at?" one officer questions. "Is he stabbed too? Who stabbed him?"
'Get on the floor, man! Don’t move!'
Later, as the officers approach the front door, both notice 40-year-old Anthony kneeling behind a woman and carrying two knives. "Don’t move! Don’t move!" an officer shouts. "Get on the floor, man! Don’t move! Get on the floor!" according to the police. Anthony disobeyed their orders and continued attacking the woman. The Gunshots can be heard on the body camera as one cop shoots the man four times.
Anthony Castro died at the scene
The injured woman was rescued by police after the shooting and moved away from the doorway. She was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening wounds. An officer then went back into the home to rescue the second injured woman and Anthony's wife, Monica, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Additional officers were spotted at the residence, and Anthony died at the scene. Police stated they found the two knives he was holding on him. The Maryvale Estrella Mountain Precinct officer who opened fire is a veteran of the force with seven years of service.
