Who is Joseph Castorena? Man under restraining order kills 4 at Colorado home before fleeing
AURORA, COLORADO: Police are seeking 21-year-old Joseph Castorena who was accused of killing four people at a Colorado home. The suspect who is still at large is known to have a criminal history and was under restraining order, according to one of the victim’s family members.
At a press conference on October 30, Aurora Interim Police Chief Daniel Oates said the officers received a complaint of suspicious behavior at a North Geneva Street property just after 2 am. Castorena's domestic partner, an adult woman, was the one who made the 911 call, police chief Oates reported. He said a recently filed restraining order forbade Castorena from going near the domestic partner or the North Geneva house. Oates also claimed that the 21-year-old "has a history involving domestic violence,” as per Law&Crime.
RELATED ARTICLES
The Stockton Serial Killer? Fears grow after police find pattern in murders of five men
Lee Nevins: Manhunt launched after convict who murdered disabled man escapes from prison AGAIN
#APDAlert: Officers are on scene of a shooting w/ 4 victims in a house near 900 of N. Geneva St.
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) October 30, 2022
The male suspect is believed to be in the area & reverse 911 has been sent to those nearby. Multiple officers are in the area searching.
Call 911 to report anything suspicious. pic.twitter.com/GyndiejzQg
However, the defendant is accused of disobeying a court order through his activities. Oates stated that the 911 call-taker escalated the call to an urgent response after hearing gunshots. One woman (not the domestic partner) and three men were discovered dead when police arrived. The other three victims were inside the house but one victim was found outside. The domestic partner and two very young children suffered no physical harm, according to Oates. In any case, the victims were not named by the authorities.
Ubaldo Codina, a family member of one of the victims, informed FOX31 that the sought-after suspect had previously threatened others. “He was very violent. He was very bad,” Codina said whose niece and ex-brother-in-law were killed in the shooting. He claimed that his niece who lived through the shooting ran into the restroom and dialed 911. “She was really scared because he told her if she called the cops he would kill her,” Codina said. “He killed Jesus, then Mariana and Marianna’s husband which is Ken. He also killed the neighbor. Jesus has a small RV he was renting it to some old guy and he came out to see what was happening then he shot him.”
Codina stated that Jessica and Mariana were identical twins. The twins' father, Jesus, had previously wed Codina's sister. “We didn’t know who was killed until after a few hours,” Codina disclosed. Gunshots were allegedly heard during a 911 call and the dispatcher escalated the case to urgent, causing officers to arrive three minutes later. “Jessica ran into the bathroom and that’s when she called the cops. He has a criminal background,” Codina added.
Castorena was charged with child abuse, failure to appear and a domestic violence incident, according to FOX31. He is still at large, according to the police who said they had finished searching the neighborhood on October 30. When police checked the adjacent home of his relatives, he was nowhere to be found. “We have to assume he is armed,” the police chief Oates said. “And we are very concerned and want to do everything we can to find him and take him into custody as soon as possible.” Castorena is described by police as having a thin physique and standing at five feet four inches in height. “Unknown what he is wearing today. Note the Lion tattoo on his neck,” Oates mentioned, referencing his mugshot from a prior arrest.