Park holds slain teen’s memory
Family mourns at Santa Monica mural for Juan Castillo, 18.
Walking to the Santa Monica park where he used to watch his son play football, Jorge Castillo told a story about when Juan Castillo was in junior high.
“I remember when he got his first interception, and had this blank stare on his face,” Jorge Castillo, 46, said with a chuckle. “I yelled at him to start running, and he just ran through those kids. It was amazing, but he didn’t make a touchdown, though.”
Lourdes Castillo, Juan’s mother, was walking a few steps ahead. He did make it, she exclaimed, playfully shaking her head. Jorge Castillo laughed and agreed.
But the family fell silent when they reached Virginia Avenue Park, near Pico and Cloverfield boulevards.
On Feb. 26, Juan, 18, was found dead outside UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. He had been shot in the head, according to L.A. County coroner’s records. Police said his body was dumped there and are investigating whether his death is linked to earlier gunfire near Virginia Avenue Park.
The family had stayed away from the park until Friday. Jorge Castillo learned of a mural dedicated to Juan, so he put on his son’s old football sweatshirt and set out with his wife, Lourdes Castillo, and their oldest son, Jorge Castillo Jr., 21.
Here’s where the family celebrated birthdays, Jorge Castillo said, motioning to one section of the park. Then he traced goal posts beyond the far trees where Juan had coached a tournament-winning youth soccer team.
Juan had always been a standout athlete, competing on all-star baseball teams and playing football at Santa Monica High School. He had plans to enroll soon at Santa Monica College and join the Marines.
“Juan was the ultimate competitor,” said Lewis Alexander, Juan’s high school coach.
As the family continued through the park, waves of well-wishers slowed them down with hugs and kisses, but they pressed on until they reached the mural, a colorful portrait of Juan.
Lourdes Castillo began to weep, then her son did too. Her husband cried silently.
“Everybody said my brother was a tough guy, but I never saw him that way,” Jorge Castillo Jr. said. “When he was in pre-K, his teachers used to come get me because he needed his big brother to fall asleep. That’s how I’ll always remember him.”
After they all had taken their time, the Castillos started to slowly make their way home. But the elder Jorge Castillo lingered.
“My son had plans to join the Marines, and if he died, he said that he would want to be buried nearby this park. This is where he spent all his time,” Juan’s father said. “I know my wife says she wants to move, but I don’t think I can. I don’t want to leave him.”