13 Oct Getaway Driver in Laredo Teen’s Killing Takes Plea Deal, Gets 5 Years

A Laredo man once charged with murder in the death of 18-year-old Rafael Castillo will serve five years behind bars under a plea deal, according to the Laredo Morning Times.

Brian Alexander Rosales admitted guilt on Sept. 10 to two counts: tampering with evidence and aggravated assault against a public servant. In return, prosecutors dismissed the murder charge, a second aggravated assault count, an evading arrest charge and another open case against him. He also gets credit for time already served.

Five years is the lowest sentence available on the assault count, a first-degree felony that can bring anywhere up to 99 years, or life. The tampering charge, a third-degree felony, carries between two and 10 years.

The case goes back to Feb. 2. Laredo police were called around 4:28 p.m. to Kearney Street, near the 2000 block, where a large group of young men was fighting outside a home. Police said someone pulled a handgun and struck Castillo in the head. Responders took him to a Laredo hospital, and he was then flown to San Antonio. He later died of his injuries. Police counted it as Laredo’s first homicide of 2026.

Rosales was 19 at the time. Detectives said he drove the getaway vehicle. He was arrested within days after running from officers on foot, which led to the charges of assaulting a public servant, evading arrest and tampering. All three adults were first charged with aggravated assault, then moved up to murder once Castillo died.

Rosales had entered a not-guilty plea on the murder charge, and his trial was on the calendar for November, according to court records reported by KGNS in July.

Police named Dilan Jhosafat Herrera as the gunman. His murder case is still open. He is due back in court Dec. 8 for a last pretrial hearing, and a jury will be picked starting in January 2027.

Julio Cruz, also charged with murder, is described by police as having taken part alongside Herrera. He has a hearing Oct. 23, with jury selection not until April 2027.

A 16-year-old was taken into custody Feb. 4 near North Meadow Avenue on an aggravated assault charge, and prosecutors said they would try to move his case to adult court. His name hasn’t been released.