Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the sentencing of Alexander Castillo, a 27-year-old Bronx resident, to 18 years in prison. Castillo was convicted of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and other charges following an incident at a Port Jefferson pool hall in December 2022.
District Attorney Tierney stated, "With this sentence, we want the public to know that we are holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable." He added that Castillo attempted to resolve a financial dispute with violence and will now face significant prison time.
The trial revealed that on December 28, 2022, Castillo spent several hours playing pool at the venue. After losing money through wagers on games, he left briefly and returned wearing a ski mask and hat while carrying a loaded gun. Castillo demanded his losses back from his opponent by brandishing the firearm.
A struggle ensued when two men tried to disarm him. During the altercation outside the establishment, Castillo shot one man in the groin and another in the chest before fleeing. Both victims were hospitalized for emergency treatment.
Castillo was apprehended by Suffolk County Police Department officers in Manhattan on February 10, 2023. His conviction came after a jury trial presided over by Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro on August 23, 2024.
The charges against Castillo included two counts of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree (Class B violent felonies), two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (Class C violent felonies), one count of criminal use of a firearm in the second degree (a Class C violent felony), four counts of assault in the second degree (Class D violent felonies), one count of attempted robbery in the second degree (a Class D violent felony), one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (a Class D felony), and one count of petit larceny (a Class A misdemeanor).