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Left inset: Rueben Rocha (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Jordin Miranda Castillo (GoFundMe). Background: The Arizona apartment complex where Rueben Rocha shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend Jordin Miranda Castillo (KSAZ/YouTube).
An Arizona resident has been sentenced to life imprisonment after fatally shooting his former girlfriend while she desperately pleaded for him to “please leave” her apartment. The tragic incident occurred with their 2-year-old child concealed inside the home.
Rueben Rocha was found guilty last month on charges of first-degree murder and additional offenses stemming from the shooting of 20-year-old Jordin Miranda Castillo in Glendale, which took place in June 2023.
According to prosecutors, Rocha accessed the third-floor apartment by climbing onto the balcony and forcibly entering through a glass door. At the time, their young child was hidden inside along with Castillo’s friends.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, in a press release issued on Friday, explained that Castillo called 911 during the incident and could be heard urging Rocha to leave the premises.
“I have an order of protection!” Castillo could be heard shouting during the 911 call before she was shot to death. Local Fox affiliate KSAZ obtained audio from the call.
“You’re gonna get arrested!” Castillo shouted, desperately trying to avert the situation.
Rocha opened fire on Castillo and others in the home while she was still on the phone with dispatch, according to the attorney’s office. Castillo was killed, and two of her friends were seriously injured.
“In total, Rocha fired 19 times and continued shooting even as the victims lay helpless on the floor,” the attorney’s office said.
Castillo was inside a Glendale apartment when Rocha showed up and attempted to break in after getting up on her balcony. Investigators reported that “social media drama” sparked the attack, with Castillo and Rocha getting into some sort of dispute online.
Police said Rocha showed up at Castillo’s apartment dressed in all black with a face mask and a hoodie pulled over his head, according to the Arizona Republic.
“We do not show any previous reports of domestic violence,” a police spokesperson told reporters after the shooting, per the Republic.
Rocha turned himself in and was booked on multiple charges. He was found guilty of murder, aggravated assault, burglary and disorderly conduct.
A Maricopa County judge sentenced Rocha to life in prison and an additional 52 1/2 years, 15 of which are to be served consecutively to his life sentence.
“Jordin deserved to be safe, her daughter deserved to grow up with a mother, and her friends deserved to live a life free of the scars and pain caused by this defendant’s jealousy and rage,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a statement. “Thanks to prosecutors Lindsay Gephardt and Melissa Certo, a jury saw through his attempts to justify his cruel actions, and he will never get out of prison.”