Young man accused of shooting Salpointe senior has dark past

CREATED JAN. 3, 2012
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9 On Your Side uncovered court records showing that Keanu Castaneda, 19, has a shady past.

Reporter: Tammy Vo

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Keanu Castaneda is only 19-years-old and is facing first degree murder and aggravated assault charges. This isn't the first time that Castaneda has been in trouble with the law.

Castaneda admitted to shooting and killing Carlos Sandoval, 17, on New Year's Eve at a home in the upscale 49er Country Club over what Pima County Sheriff's Deputies are calling -- a drug deal gone wrong.

Court records show that warrants had been issued for his Castaneda's arrest in August after he didn't show up to court for theft and drug charges. Documents also show that Castaneda was a foster kid and was first arrested at age nine. At age fourteen, he joined the 29th street bloods gang. At age fifteen, he began to run away and do drugs and just about a year ago he was busted for stealing.

If there was a warrant out for Castaneda's arrest since August, why wasn't he picked up? Deputies tell KGUN 9 that they actively seek to arrest criminals who have felony warrants out for their arrest.
But for misdemeanor warrants -- like in Castaneda's case -- the suspects usually aren't picked up until they come in contact with police, typically during traffic stops.

Before Castaneda was sentenced to 75 days in jail, he wrote a letter to a judge saying that he would go to college to make something of himself, wanted to join the NBA and would never do wrong again. Six months later, those promises would mean nothing.

Caryl Sandoval, Carlos' mother told KGUN 9 "To have a gun like that and can take someone else's life... what would we need something like for? It's only going to kill other people" she said in tears. "All I want is for him to someday come to the realization of what he really did, not just for his own future that he destroyed but what he really did to someone else and how many others were affected by his stupid, horrible bad choice".



PRAYER REQUEST FOR CARLOS SANDOVAL & HIS FAMILY
CARLOS DIED IN A SHOOTING ON NEW YEARS EVE
ROSARY 10:20AM-FUNERAL LITURGY 11:00AM
SATURDAY JANUARY, 7 2012
ST.JOESPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
215 S CRAYCROFT RD, TUCSON





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