Two Oakland Police Department officers shot and killed Jose Angel Castillo, 43, on July 13 after he refused repeated orders to drop makeshift spears he was carrying near a homeless encampment at 40th Avenue and International Boulevard, according to the department, which released bodycam footage of the incident on Wednesday.
Oakland officers shoot and kill man armed with makeshift spears after Taser use failed
Two Oakland Police Department officers shot and killed Jose Angel Castillo, 43, on July 13 after he refused repeated orders to drop makeshift spears he was carrying near a homeless encampment at 40th Avenue and International Boulevard, according to the department, which released bodycam footage of the incident on Wednesday.
The bodycam footage shows Castillo walking away from officers toward a parking lot while telling them he 'was doing nothing.' Officers continued to issue commands as they followed him.
After Castillo turned around, several officers deployed their Tasers, but he did not surrender, according to the footage. The department said Castillo then appeared to grab one of the officer's weapons and move toward them before two officers opened fire. Castillo fell to the ground and died at the scene.
The two officers who fired were placed on administrative leave, which the department said is required by policy.
The Oakland Police Department has recorded two fatal shootings out of three total use-of-force incidents in 2026 up to this point, compared with one fatal shooting by the same date in 2025, according to the department.
- The source does not state the names of the two officers who fired their weapons.
- The source does not state whether the Oakland Police Department or any other body has opened a formal investigation into the shooting.
- The source does not describe the nature or construction of the makeshift spears beyond calling them makeshift.
- The source does not identify which officer's weapon Castillo allegedly grabbed or the outcome of that struggle.
- The source does not include any response or statement from Castillo's family or representatives.
- The source does not state the current status of the two officers placed on administrative leave.
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