Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Jessie Castro
Age : 15
Gender : Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 03/19/2022
Location : U.S. Highway 60 approximately 10 miles east of Friona
City : Friona area
County : Parmer
State : Texas
Agency : Texas Department of Public Safety
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Vehicle
Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
REASON FOR CHASE: Passenger killed during a traffic-stop pursuit; a Texas DPS trooper attempted to stop the Chevrolet Malibu in which Castro was riding on eastbound U.S. Highway 60. The initial reason for the attempted traffic stop was not disclosed in the reporting located.
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NARRATIVE:
On 03/19/2022, 15-year-old Jessie Castro of Clovis, New Mexico, was killed while riding as a passenger in a Chevrolet Malibu being pursued by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in Parmer County. His 16-year-old brother Angel Alfredo Saenz was also killed.
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At approximately 9:38 p.m., a DPS trooper attempted to stop the Malibu driven by 21-year-old Damian Javier Garcia on eastbound U.S. Highway 60. Garcia continued away from the trooper for approximately 18 to 20 miles.
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Garcia crossed the median and continued eastbound in the westbound lanes. Approximately 10 miles east of Friona, the Malibu collided head-on with an oncoming Jeep Wrangler.
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Jessie and Angel died at the scene. Garcia was transported to an Amarillo hospital and later died from his injuries.
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Jessie's obituary confirms that he was 15 years old, from Clovis, and died March 19, 2022.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Texas Department of Public Safety did not publicly identify the trooper who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit.
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