A 17-year-old from Robbins has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy from University Park, according to Cook County sheriff’s police.
Jahquan Castillo was ordered held without bond following an initial court appearance Tuesday, according to police.
Sheriff’s investigators were called to the Kickapoo Meadows Forest Preserve, near Dixmoor, Nov. 1, 2022, where a body was found near the 14000 block of South Thornton Road.
Detectives found Jaiden Howard unresponsive with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
During the course of their investigation, detectives identified Castillo as the offender, and a warrant for him was issued April 17, according to police. Castillo was arrested Monday in the 2500 block of 173rd Street in Lansing, police said.
Castillo, Howard and three other people were riding in a vehicle the night of Oct. 31, 2022, and had been planning to record a music video, according to evidence presented by prosecutors the Markham courthouse. Neither Castillo nor Howard were driving, according to the proffer.
At one point they stopped for gas and Castillo and Howard got into an argument, which continued as the car continued to the forest preserve, prosecutors said.
Both Castillo and Howard had guns, and at one point Castillo took Howard’s gun from him and pointed both guns at Howard, prosecutors said.
Once at the forest preserve, Castillo told Howard to get out of the car, when Castillo fired, prosecutors said
The upper half of Howard’s body was hanging out of the open car door and Castillo kicked at him, causing Howard to fall out of the vehicle, they said.
Sheriff’s police called the next morning to a report of a body being found discovered Howard about 15 feet into the woods, partially in a storm ravine, prosecutors said. In arguing that Castillo be held, prosecutors said his release would “pose a real and present threat” to the safety of others.
He is next due to appear in court July 12.
mnolan@tribpub.com