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High school student charged with capital murder in deaths of father and son

Joshua Castro, 18, was arrested at the school Wednesday with the help of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and NISD officers.

SAN ANTONIO — A Chavez Excel Academy student is now facing capital murder charges in connection with a double murder from last year.

Joshua Castro, 18, was arrested Wednesday at the school, which is on the Holmes High School campus, with the help of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Northside ISD police officers.

He is accused in the deaths of a father and son who were shot and killed in a convenience store parking lot in the 9000 block of Potranco Road on Dec. 6, 2023.

Police said surveillance video showed Castro and another suspect, Sebastian Toledo, 18, had set up a meeting with the victims for a deal to purchase a firearm.

According to an arrest affidavit, surveillance video showed that Castro and Toledo were in a car parked next to the victims' car. After a short conversation, both victims were shot. 

The victims were identified as 34-year-old Raymond Ancira and 15-year-old Raymond Alexander Ancira.

The younger victim made his way inside the service station before collapsing. The senior Ancira fell out from the driver's seat of his car and was found there by responding officers.

The affidavit says the two suspects rummaged through the victims' vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Police believe the meeting was planned, based on the actions seen on the surveillance video, the affidavit states.

Credit: KENS 5
Joshua Castro

Police were able to use a social media account provided by the victims' family to connect Castro to the scene. His social media account contained a message thread connected to the 15-year-old Ancira, the affidavit said.

A video found on Castro's social media account also appears to show him riding in the vehicle seen in the surveillance video hours before the shootings occurred, the affidavit said.

Toledo was found dead on Monday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after SWAT officers attempted to serve a warrant on Cat Mountain Street.

Police said Wednesday that social media postings showed Toledo and Castro planned to rob the victims during the weapons deal.

Castro is facing two charges of capital murder in those deaths.

Detectives believe there may be other suspects in this case and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Please call detectives at 210-207-7635 with any information.

See the full remarks from San Antonio Police below:

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