Suspect dead after Amber Alert issued in Marion County; 13-year-old girl found safe
Deputies say suspect Jason Castillo has died following a chase, shooting
BELLEVIEW, Fla. (WCJB) - Authorities say a 13-year-old girl from Ocala was found safe a short time after a Florida Amber Alert was issued. The suspect died in the hospital following a chase and shooting.
Deputies say suspect Jason Castillo, 45, abducted the girl from a home on Southwest 27th Avenue in the Shady Road Villas community on Monday.
A short time after an Amber Alert was issued, Castillo’s vehicle was detected by license plate readers and a witness.
Deputies approached the vehicle on U.S. Highway 441 in Belleview. He refused to stop, and deputies performed a PIT maneuver, crashing the vehicle into a ditch.
Deputies say shots were fired as they were attempting to take Castillo into custody, and he was killed. The teenager was found safe.
Neighbors say they heard gunfire and saw the girl getting in an ambulance at the scene.
“We’re busy around here in Belleview; that just shows it’s getting busy around here and scary we have kids in the house, and a stray bullet from there can go real quick,” shared neighbor Scott Pillar.
Officials say Castillo previously dated the victim’s mother.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputy-involved shooting.
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