Lubbock man admits to brother-in-law's shooting death, sentenced to 20 years

A 37-year-old man who admitted to fatally shooting his brother-in-law three years ago in the back seat of a vehicle was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.

Adrian Castillo, who has been out on bond since Oct. 16, 2019, appeared before District Judge William Eichman and pleaded guilty to a count of manslaughter in connection with the Sept. 28, 2019, shooting death of 36-year-old George Garcia Jr.

Lubbock man accused in brother-in-law’s deadly shooting indicted

Manslaughter is a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison.

Castillo, who is represented by Lubbock attorney Chuck Lanehart, was initially charged with murder, a first degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison.

He also stipulated to using a deadly weapon, which requires him to serve half of his sentence before he is parole eligible.

Castillo's charge stems from a Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit investigation that began close to midnight Sept. 28, 2019, when Lubbock police responded to a shots fired call in the 1100 block of South Loop 289.

Responding officers found Garcia suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to University Medical Center where he later died, according to an arrest warrant.

Garcia’s common-law wife, who is Castillo’s sister, told investigators that before the shooting she, Garcia, her father and Castillo were leaving a bar in a pickup truck that her brother drove. She said she and her father got into an argument and Garcia intervened. She said Garcia and her father began fighting.

Castillo reportedly told investigators he was driving and heard the argument. He said he stopped the truck and first fired his gun in the air out of the window to stop the fighting, the warrant states.

But the two continued to fight, Castillo said, and he shot Garcia in the torso, the warrant states.

Garcia’s wife said her husband got out of the truck and collapsed. Castillo said he drove his family home, leaving Garcia in the street.