Slain athlete honored by high school

Santa Monica High retires jersey of ex-football captain killed in February.

Santa Monica High retires No. 53, worn by ex-football captain Juan Castillo, who was killed in February.

The announcer called the name over the loudspeaker as the Santa Monica High Vikings entered Corsair Stadium for their first football game of the season.

At the edge of the Santa Monica College field, Lourdes Castillo also mouthed the words: Juan Castillo. Her son.

The 18-year-old former football team captain was shot to death in February. On Friday, the school retired his number, 53.

Sherwin Espinosa, 42, was arrested and charged in Castillo’s killing. He has pleaded not guilty.

But that was far from the Castillos’ minds as father, mother and brother linked arms — each wearing one of Juan’s jerseys — and walked to the center of the field. Friends and family circled them, and Vikings coach Ramsey Lambert presented a jersey and picture of Juan Castillo signed by the team.

Players from the Vikings and their opponents, Santa Ana Segerstrom High, hugged the family members before they made their way to the bleachers to watch the game.

“It means so much that the school would do this for Juan,” his father, Jorge Castillo Sr., 46, said. “They’ve never done this before. Now he’ll always be a part of the stadium and the games here.”

Father and son shared a deep love of football and the Dallas Cowboys, so much so that Jorge had the team’s logo tattooed on his shoulder. After Juan’s death, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sent the family a letter and a signed football from the team.

And Jorge has new tattoos: Juan’s name and face are now prominent on his arm.

After the ceremony, Jorge watched the game from the front row. Though the Vikings lost, 39-0, he watched with a grin.

“It’s not the best outcome, but I’m just glad what they did for my son,” he said. “That’s something nobody can take away.”

‘It means so much that the school would do this for Juan . ... Now he’ll always be a part of the stadium and the games here.’ — Jorge Castillo Sr., father of Juan Castillo, 18

Gary Coronado Los Angeles Times THE FAMILY of Juan Castillo — father Jorge Castillo Sr., left, mother Lourdes, brother Jorge and cousin Samantha — attend a football game that included a tribute to retire the number of the former captain of the Santa Monica Vikings, who was fatally...