| By Big Radio News Staff |
Authorities say an Illinois police officer who shot a man dead in Beloit did so to protect himself from being rammed to death by a stolen SUV the man was driving.
The Rock County District Attorney’s office says the killing of 19-year-old Ray Castro came after he ran across state lines after trying to flee a traffic stop with an officer hanging out of his getaway vehicle in South Beloit the morning of March 16.
Castro was wanted on a warrant.
The D.A.’s office says an investigation shows Castro had a South Beloit officer pinned inside the vehicle as Castro told a woman driving to “step on it.” The officer fought with Castro, then drew his gun and shot the woman in the leg.
After the woman crashed in a ditch, Castro got out and ran from police, even after officers hit him with a Taser. Castro ran to a nearby bar and threatened a man he’d slash his throat if the man didn’t give him the keys to his SUV.
Then, Castro proceeded to speed off along Highway 51 in the stolen SUV at 90 miles per hour, almost smashing into several cars while blowing through intersections. Castro crossed the state line into Beloit, with Roscoe, Illinois police Sgt. Robert Lewis hot on his trail.
After another Roscoe officer rammed the SUV, Castro gunned it and peeled out straight at Lewis’s squad car, ramming it, with the SUV’s tires smoking.
A Beloit officer sailed in and clipped Castro’s SUV just as Lewis drew his gun and shot Castro with multiple bullets, which struck and killed Castro.
The D.A.’s office says body cam footage shows Lewis acted to protect himself and others from being killed by Castro.
Evidence in the D.A.’s case came from information gathered by the Rock County Medical Examiner and a Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations probe into the officer involved shooting.
