HASKELL COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday morning in Haskell County according to a KBI statement.
The Haskell County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI investigative assistance on Sunday, May 26, at 1:55 a.m. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, a Haskell county deputy attempted to make a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 83 and Highway 56. This attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit. The deputy called for assistance and the pursuit continued to Highway 144. The subject’s vehicle turned east on Highway 144 and attempted to make a U-turn, striking the deputy’s vehicle and coming to a stop in the north ditch.
The two deputies on scene provided the suspect, Richard Castillo, age 37, of Ulysses, Kan., verbal commands. Castillo produced a firearm from within the vehicle and both deputies fired their weapons, striking Castillo. EMS responded to the scene, and determined Castillo was dead. The coroner was called to the scene and pronounced Castillo dead on scene at 2:55 a.m. An autopsy will be scheduled.
The involved deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave. The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. The Kansas Highway Patrol is assisting with an investigation into the collision. Once the investigation has concluded, the findings will be turned over to the Haskell County Attorney for review.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
Dane Hicks is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA. He is the author of novels "The Skinning Tree" and "A Whisper For Help." As publisher of the Anderson County Review in Garnett, KS., he is a recipient of the Kansas Press Association's Boyd Community Service Award as well as more than 60 awards for excellence in news, editorial and photography.
