POLICE Department
Update: One Suspect Arrested, Others Sought in Fatal Shooting at 5612 Newport Street
August 23, 2021 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of one man and the wounding of another at 5612 Newport Street about 7 p.m. on August 8.
The suspect, Giovanni Matt Ornelas (H/m, 31), is charged with murder in the 176th State District Court for his role in the killing of Albert Castillo, Jr., 22. A booking photo of Ornelas is attached to this news release.
The second victim, Albert Castillo, Sr., 39, was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.
HPD Homicide Division Detectives L. Palma and B. Stephens reported:
Officers responded to a drive-by shooting call outside a residence at the above address and found Mr. Castillo (Jr.) deceased from a gunshot wound to the upper torso and Mr. Castillo (Sr.) with a gunshot wound to the arm.
The suspect was described only as a white or light-skinned Hispanic male, thin with an athletic build, short back or brown hair, a tattoo sleeve on his left arm and a thin beard. He was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and was last seen traveling eastbound on Newport Drive toward the North Freeway (North Interstate Highway 45).
Further investigation identified Ornelas as one of the suspects in this case. Last Thursday (August 19), members of the HPD SWAT and Southwest Patrol Division Crime Suppression teams arrested Ornelas without incident.
Investigators are seeking information on at least two other individuals who were inside the suspect's vehicle involved in the shooting. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Giovanni Ornelas
JFC/JKS 8-23-21
Inc #106921821
