Man killed in Mesa apartment shooting

Police say altercation had to do with a financial debt

A man was shot and killed early Friday morning in a Mesa apartment during an altercation over money, according to police.

At about 3:33 a.m., Mesa police responded to a shooting call in the 200 block of East Brown Road. They found a man, later identified as 37year-old Shane Gilliam, alive but unconscious.

Gilliam was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

According to police reports, Gilliam was visiting cousins when 26year-old Miguel Armando Espinoza Castro entered the cousins’ apartment accompanied by several people in possession of a handgun.

Gilliam confronted Castro and was thrown to the floor while Gilliam’s cousins ran into the bedroom, according to police reports. The cousins reported hearing gunshots.

When they returned to the living room, they found Gilliam lying on the floor with a large amount of blood surrounding his head, police reports said.

According to statements to police, the cousins knew Castro and owed him money. Conflicting statements said the debt was for a TV or for drugs.

Castro was arrested Friday night on suspicion of murder and burglary.

Police records say Castro had been previously arrested earlier this year for possession and transportation of dangerous drugs.