Illegal Alien Who Shot a West Texas Cop Sentenced to Prison

LUBBOCK – A Mexican man who shot a police officer in Seminole was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton last week.

Jose Ramon Castillo-Lopez, 28, was charged via criminal complaint in October 2022 and indicted later that same month. He pleaded guilty in May 2023 to illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Castillo-Lopez, a Mexican national in the United States illegally, admitted he was pulled over by a Seminole Police Department officer for traffic violations on Oct. 1, 2022.

As the officer approached Castillo-Lopez’s vehicle, he began firing at the officer with a handgun. The officer was struck but moved to a defensive position and returned fire. Mr. Castillo-Lopez exited his vehicle and fled, dropping a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol as he did so.

The officer was able to radio in a description of the defendant, and he was apprehended a few blocks away shortly thereafter.

In an interview with law enforcement, Castillo-Lopez admitted he had been previously deported and was currently in the county illegally. He also admitted to firing the pistol, which he said he purchased from an unknown individual at a traffic light in Midland, Texas for $200.

The victim officer’s body armor prevented serious injury, and he returned to duty shortly thereafter.

Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Seminole Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McLeod prosecuted the case.