A man was reportedly detained after a birthday party shooting, but authorities have not released a full charging update.
LOS ANGELES — A homicide investigation into a May 9 shooting at a Wilmington pizza restaurant has left one 26-year-old father dead, another man wounded and public questions about the identity and charging status of the gunman.
The shooting at Red West Pizza began as a disturbance between two women and ended with gunfire after the birthday celebrant tried to intervene, police said. Local reports later said a man had been taken into custody, but no public account reviewed for this story included a named suspect, a filed charge or a detailed motive.
Police were called to the restaurant at 614 W. Pacific Coast Highway at about 5:51 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Officers arrived after reports that shots had been fired inside or near the restaurant, a familiar Wilmington business near Bay View Avenue. Investigators said two women had been fighting when the 26-year-old victim attempted to separate them. At that point, police said, a male suspect opened fire. The shots struck the man trying to stop the fight and another man in his early to mid-20s. The second victim survived and was reported hospitalized with stable vital signs or non-life-threatening injuries.
The identity of the man killed has been reported in different ways. Family members and several local outlets identified him as Andres Castellas or Andres Castellano, a father celebrating his 26th birthday. A later report citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Jorbin Castellanos Aguilera. The medical examiner identification placed the case in the official death investigation system, while the names used by loved ones reflected how he was known in early public coverage. Available reports do not say whether authorities consider one version a legal name and another a family or preferred name.
The suspect information also changed as the case developed. In the first public accounts, police said the shooter ran away on foot after firing and was described only as a man in his early to mid-20s. NBC Los Angeles reported that police said a possible suspect had been detained for questioning at about 9:15 p.m. the night of the shooting, but officers could not confirm an arrest then. CBS Los Angeles later reported that a man was taken into custody in connection with the shooting. That report did not identify the suspect, and available public accounts did not include a booking number, court date or filing decision by prosecutors.
Those gaps matter because the case involves a crowded public place, a surviving gunshot victim and a claim that the person killed was acting as a peacemaker rather than as a combatant. Police have not said what started the fight between the women. They have not publicly said whether the shooter was part of the original dispute, whether he arrived with anyone involved, or whether he exchanged words with the victim before opening fire. Investigators also have not released a recovered weapon, surveillance description, or final reconstruction of where each person was standing when shots were fired.
Relatives said the man killed was at Red West Pizza for a birthday celebration with family and friends. A fundraising page and local interviews described him as a father with a 5-year-old daughter who had moved from Colombia about three years earlier. Maria Rondan, identified as his girlfriend, told local television that someone had taken “somebody’s father” and “son.” Michelle Costa, who knew him, said he was peaceful and did not like violence. She also said the shooting escalated quickly and that she tried to help him after he was hit.
The restaurant scene created its own set of witnesses and evidence. Local news video showed a police perimeter around the business after the shooting, with officers working outside the restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway. A restaurant employee was among those shot, according to reports, which could place a surviving victim close to the events that led to the gunfire. In a homicide case with a public setting, detectives commonly seek surveillance video from the restaurant and nearby businesses, interview patrons and employees, compare witness accounts, and review medical and ballistic evidence. Authorities have not publicly said which of those steps have been completed in this case.
The neighborhood response added pressure for answers. A nearby resident told NBC Los Angeles that children are often at the restaurant and said it was frightening to see a family moment turn violent. Loved ones held a vigil outside Red West Pizza on the Monday after the shooting, placing candles and balloons and praying near the scene. Costa said the man killed could light up a room and make people smile. The vigil recast the restaurant from a crime scene into a memorial, while the official investigation continued behind the limited information released to the public.
The procedural path now depends on whether the person reported in custody is formally connected to the killing. If prosecutors file charges, court records would normally identify the defendant, counts, bail status and an arraignment date. If the person was only questioned or detained, police could continue to seek evidence before making an arrest. As of June 3, available reports did not show a public charging summary, and the motive remained unknown.
Author note: Last updated June 3, 2026.