Victims Stabbed to Death After Refusing to Drive Intoxicated Individual

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 9, 1999

On Monday, March 8, 1999, 1:45 a.m., North Hollywood patrol officers responded to an "ambulance cutting" call in the 12000 block of Victory Boulevard. Officers discovered 31-year-old Andres Munoz Castillo, a resident of North Hollywood, lying on the sidewalk with a stab wound to his upper torso. Castillo was transported by ambulance to Pacifica Hospital but succumbed to his injuries at 2:45 a.m.

Subsequent investigation revealed Castillo and his girlfriend were on their way home after an evening out at the "El Zorro" nightclub at Burbank Boulevard and Lankershim Boulevard. Their vehicle was stopped by police for expired registration at Radford Avenue and Victory Boulevard.

The officers then discovered the driver, Castillo, did not have a driver’s license and subsequently impounded the vehicle. Officers asked the occupants if they wanted a taxi to respond. Castillo and his girlfriend declined the offer of a taxi and decided to walk a short distance to the pay phones located at Ben Avenue and Victory Boulevard.

While at the pay phone, Castillo and his girlfriend were approached by a male Hispanic who asked them for a quarter. Castillo gave this individual the money. The couple then walked away from him. They continued walking westbound on Victory Boulevard to another pay phone. The same individual, now driving a vehicle, drove up and asked them to drive him home because he was intoxicated. Castillo approached the suspect’s vehicle and leaned into the passenger window, advising him that the couple would not be able to drive him home. At this time, the suspect produced an unknown type sharp instrument and stabbed Castillo one time in the upper torso.

Castillo fell to the sidewalk as the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle described as a possible light blue mid-sized American car with three or four light primer spots on the passenger side. The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, approximately 25 to 30 years of age, 5’5" tall, medium weight, with a mustache and short hair.

If you have any information, please contact North Hollywood Area at 818-623-4016.

For Release 12:55 pm PST
March 9, 1999