With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Former Sheriff's Deputy Faces Murder Charges For High-Speed Crash That Killed A Child
A former Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy has been charged in the death of a 12-year-old boy.
(
Justin Sullivan
/
Getty Images
)
L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced the arrest Wednesday of a former L.A. County sheriff's deputy in the death of a 12-year-old boy in November 2021.
Authorities said Ricardo Castro, who at the time of the collision an off-duty, crashed into another car while driving significantly past the speed limit in a school zone. He was not on duty.
About the crash
Castro allegedly T-boned a car at an estimated 90 mph in a 25 mph school zone. The driver of the car he struck, a 19-year-old woman, was severely injured. The passenger, her 12 year-old brother Isaiah Rodriguez, was also severely injured and later died at the hospital.
Support for LAist comes from
What are the charges?
Castro is being charged with vehicular manslaughter, murder, and reckless driving.
“The deputy showed a conscious disregard for the lives and safety of the people of South Gate by recklessly speeding on a busy street, Gascón said. "The behavior is even more confounding since this happened in an area designated as a zone where school children were present."
The backstory
Castro, 28, had a record of traffic collisions and tickets for speeding, according to the DA. He was a passenger in another fatal car crash three months before the collision that killed the child. Since the collision, he has been dismissed from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.
What's next?
Castro is being held at the Twin Tower Correctional Facility in Los Angeles on $2 million bail. He appeared in court today, but his arraignment was continued until March 23. A bail review hearing is set for February 22.
Support for LAist comes from
Why it matters
A significant part of Gascón's campaign to defeat Jackie Lacey in 2020 centered around his promise to hold law enforcement members responsible for their actions. In his few full year in office, the department says it "filed charges against 21 officers from seven agencies for crimes ranging from murder to filing a false report under penalty of perjury." Since he was elected, Gascón has faced multiple unsuccessful recall attempts.
Corrected February 16, 2023 at 8:01 AM PST
An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the fatal traffic collision as an accident. LAist does not use that term to describe crashes. Here's the guidance from our Dialogue style guide:
Our newsroom does not use the term accident for traffic collisions. This makes a crash sound like an unavoidable result of increased vehicle use and risks minimizing responsibility when little is known. Unsafe speeds, inattentive driving, and decades of transportation disinvestment also contribute to a collision. Using words like collision and crash are acceptable.
Avoid using the phrase hit/killed by a car. This removes the onus of responsibility from the driver. Whether a crash was intentional or not, vehicles are tools used by people. Acceptable phrases include the driver hit a person with their car (or a phrase more accurate to the story).
Our newsroom does not use the term accident for traffic collisions. This makes a crash sound like an unavoidable result of increased vehicle use and risks minimizing responsibility when little is known. Unsafe speeds, inattentive driving, and decades of transportation disinvestment also contribute to a collision. Using words like collision and crash are acceptable.
Avoid using the phrase hit/killed by a car. This removes the onus of responsibility from the driver. Whether a crash was intentional or not, vehicles are tools used by people. Acceptable phrases include the driver hit a person with their car (or a phrase more accurate to the story).
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
Best of LAist