Detectives investigate death of 18-year-old in Santa Monica

Police detectives on Monday were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a teenager in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica police responded to the 1300 block of 16th Street shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday after a report of an unconscious victim lying on the ground with a head injury, police said in a statement.

The victim, identified by the coroner’s office as 18-year-old Juan Castillo, was pronounced dead at the scene. Castillo had a gunshot wound to the head, Santa Monica police Lt. Saul Rodriguez said.

Detectives are investigating a possible link to an earlier radio call for service, authorities said. At about 12:45 a.m., police responded to the 2100 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a possible shooting.

Officers found evidence of a shooting, police said, but no victims or suspects were located.

“We have not made that link yet, but we have not ruled it out at this point,� Rodriguez said. “Beyond that, we are still looking for any possible witnesses who may have seen the crime or seen the individual, our victim, being dropped off — or how he got there.�

A man who identified himself as Castillo’s father told KNBC-TV that his son had been on his way home from a party when the shooting happened.

“I just want justice to be served,� Jorge Castillo told the TV station.

Police asked anyone with additional information concerning the case to call 310-458-8491.

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Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia

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UPDATES:

11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with details about the injury.

This article was originally published at 6:20 a.m.