NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
District of Nevada

March 30, 2009
 
CALIFORNIA FUGITIVE wanted for Attempted Murder ARRESTED IN las vegas
 
Peter Castillo, a 19 year old fugitive who was considered armed and dangerous, was arrested Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nev., by members of the U.S. Marshals Nevada Fugitive Investigative Strike Team (FIST) in close collaboration with gang unit detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.  Castillo, a known gang member, was wanted by the Bakersfield Police Department for Attempted Murder.  In August of 2008, Castillo allegedly approached several people in an apartment complex in Bakersfield, CA, and without warning fired a number of rounds from a handgun into the group.  One victim sustained a minor gunshot wound to his arm.  Additionally, a two year old girl was struck by the gunfire and suffered a serious injury to her left leg.  California investigators believe the shooting was gang related.   
 
After a thorough investigation, Nevada FIST members located and arrested Castillo in the vicinity of east Twain Avenue and Maryland Parkway.  Castillo was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and is pending extradition to California. 
 
District of Nevada U.S. Marshal Gary Orton stated, “Arrests like these once again demonstrate how effective our joint agency efforts can be in arresting violent out-of-state fugitives who think they can avoid capture by fleeing to Las Vegas.”
 
The Nevada FIST is a permanent task force that brings together the resources and expertise of state, local and federal agencies in a coordinated effort to arrest dangerous and violent fugitives.  The Nevada FIST is led by the U.S. Marshals and is comprised of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, the City of Las Vegas Department of Detention and Enforcement, the Nevada Department of Corrections, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.