Man turns himself in after killing ex-girlfriend, injuring 2 others, Glendale police say

GLENDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Police say a man has turned himself in after killing his ex-girlfriend and injuring two others at a Glendale apartment complex on Sunday afternoon. The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Jordin Miranda Castillo.

Around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Glendale police were called to an apartment complex near 51st and Northern Avenues and arrived to find three people shot. They were all taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed Monday morning that Castillo had died.

“She was so strong, she was so independent,” her brother, Elijah Castillo, said during a press conference at Glendale police headquarters Monday afternoon. “She did everything for everyone without ever asking for anything in return.”

Police also provided an update on the investigation, including the arrest of 22-year-old Rueben Xavier Rocha. Castillo and Rocha had previously been involved in a relationship and have a two-year-old daughter. Police say the couple had split up, and in April, Castillo was granted an Order of Protection against Rocha.

Earlier on Sunday, police said there had been some type of dispute between the two on social media. That afternoon, Rocha allegedly went to Castillo’s third-floor apartment dressed in all black and went up to the third-floor apartment, jumping onto the apartment balcony. Police say he then tried kicking through the glass door into the apartment that Castillo, her two-year-old daughter and four friends were in.

As Castillo was on the phone with 911, investigators say Rocha opened fire from the balcony. Castillo was shot along with two other women, a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old. The 19-year-old is still in critical condition, while the 20-year-old is in stable condition. Another woman in the apartment hid Castillo’s daughter in the bathroom, and neither were hurt. A man who was also in the apartment wasn’t injured.

Police say Rocha took off before officers arrived on Sunday but turned himself in around 1:30 p.m. Monday. He’s expected to be booked on charges including murder, aggravated assault and burglary.

“We love you, we’re going to miss you and we promise that your baby girl will never forget how incredible you are,” said Brianna Soto, Castillo’s cousin.

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