Charges filed against one suspect in carjacking/robbery attempt

Charges are now filed against one of two men arrested after the carjacking/knife attack on a family in South Delridge last Friday night. 21-year-old Jose Antonio Castro, Jr., is charged with attempted first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery. The other man who was arrested is not being charged “due to insufficient evidence,” King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe tells WSB. The court documents include details on how the incident unfolded, including how the victims fought back/resisted – read on:

(Just before 5 pm last Friday), (Victim A), his daughter (Victim B) and her son (Victim C, 9 years old) arrived home in (alley, 8400 block of) 20th Ave. SW. (Victim A) removed the vehicle keys and got out to open the gate so that he could pull his vehicle in.

Just as he began opening the gate he heard his daughter yell to get out. (Victim A) turned and saw a Hispanic male in a blue shirt in the front driver’s seat. (Victim A) ran around to the driver’s seat and saw that the suspect in the blue shirt has a large hunting style knife up to his daughter’s neck. The knife was described as having a ten-inch serrated blade and (Victim A) thought that the suspect was going to kil his daughter if she didn’t get out of the vehicle. (Victim A) heard the suspect yell “Get the f— out” to his daughter. (She) responded that her son was in the back seat and didn’t get out. (Victim A) then pulled on the suspect in the blue shirt and he turned and lunged at (Victim A) with the knife. (Victim A) jumped back or he would have had the knife imbedded in the center of his chest.

The suspect then turned toward (Victim B) again and (Victim A) grabbed him again. The suspect in the blue shirt lunged at (Victim A) two more times with the knife in an effort to stab him and kept yelling to give him the keys. The suspect in the blue shirt then pulled the door shut and locked himself inside of (Victim A’s) vehicle.

(Victim A) ran into the yard to grab a pipe or something to break the driver’s window glass and noticed
another Hispanic male near the vehicle. The Hispanic male in the brown shirt approached the driver’s door and said, “Come on, let’s go.” The suspect in the blue shirt then got out and the two suspects ran away toward Delridge with (Victim A) chasing them.

The victims called police right away and gave a very accurate description of both suspects. Responding officers Thompson and Kiehn observed two Hispanic males matching the description given by the victims exactly, walking southbound on the sidewalk of the 8600 block of Delridge Way SW. Officer Thompson moved toward the suspects and they began running. Offcer Thompson ordered the suspects to stop and they proceeded to jump the fences to two units. Officer Thompson pursued the suspects, caught up to them and ordered them down onto the ground … The suspect in the blue shirt was identified as Jose Antonio Castro … The suspect in the brown shirt was identified as (name omitted since no charges were filed). (Victims A and B) were transported to that location and they positively identified both suspects. When the suspects were identified Jose Castro yelled that he did it and (the other man) didn’t have anything to do with it.

Castro is in the King County Jail, bail set at $75,000. Court documents say his record includes convictions for 1st-degree robbery, hit-and-run, and reckless driving. He is due in court to answer the charges November 9th.

9 Replies to "Charges filed against one suspect in carjacking/robbery attempt"

  • sam October 28, 2009 (8:17 pm)

    that is really scary. I’m glad the victims got away without physical injury.

  • angrywestseattleite October 29, 2009 (10:49 am)

    Wonder if they are here legally?

  • Ron October 29, 2009 (11:43 am)

    They are most likely illegal, but we live in a sanctuary city and are not allowed to ask, I live in bizarre times, the liberals will get us killed.

  • WSB October 29, 2009 (12:01 pm)

    Is there something you have heard about this story elsewhere that gives you cause to question whether the people involved are citizens? There is nothing indicative of citizenship status one way or another in the police or court documents to which our story is sourced – my transcription above is the entirety of the “probable cause” statement, with names/addresses removed.
    .
    I don’t know that people’s citizenship status is routinely available but have a general followup question out to the prosecutor’s office, since you ask.
    .
    Meantime, regarding “sanctuary,” a little research turned up this.
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008361822_deported07m.html
    .
    TR

  • MJ October 29, 2009 (1:34 pm)

    Wonder why no assault charges were filed. Clearly from the report it appears there was a deadly weapon.

  • Ex-Westwood Resident October 29, 2009 (1:46 pm)

    WSB,
    .
    Yes that was Federal Agencies that made the sweep.
    .
    Seattle as a “Sanctuary City” will not determine the immigration status of people apprehended/arrested/questioned by police. Seattle, and I also believe King County, law enforcement agencies are forbidden by council edict from asking/investigating a persons immigration status.
    .
    Remember the woman killed at the UW 2 years ago? She was killed by her ex-boyfriend who was here illegally. He was arrested for DUI the 11 months before the murder. Because of the city’s policy of NOT determining the immigration status of people (which would have revealed he was here illegally) he was not deported (btw-he was from England).
    .
    This is NOT the first time this person (and I use the term loosely) has been convicted of a crime. If it is found out that he IS here illegally something needs to be done to address this “Sanctuary City” BS. Maybe the victims of this crime can sue the city/county of failing to perform its #1 job – keeping its citizens safe.

  • Jon October 29, 2009 (4:27 pm)

    The reason there is no assault charge is that Robbery is committing theft “by the use or threatened use of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury to that person or his property or the person or property of anyone.”

    So if you steal while assaulting or threatening assault, it is robbery.

  • laurie October 30, 2009 (12:55 pm)

    I understand the inclination to assume the assailant is an illegal immigrant, either we are a haven to a new criminal underclass from Mexico or the media is putting this perception out there. Not really sure, its troubling.

  • Don November 4, 2009 (10:07 pm)

    I have known the victim since 1st grade

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