By DAVID MORRIS
Cove Leader Press
An annual spring break family vacation to Port Aransas was cut short for the Drayton family of Copperas Cove after an altercation Saturday evening at Port Aransas beach marker 20 sent four members of the family and a family friend to an area hospital with gunshot wounds.
“Different groups of partygoers were popping up on the beach around our campsite and the police would come run them off,” said Stacy Ross. “A couple of them got into an altercation with yelling and screaming and before we knew it there were gunshots."
When the dust settled, five adults in the crowd of 20-plus extended family members who gathered for the annual trip were injured by the spray of bullets into the crowd.
“We were not a part of the altercation,” Ross added. “We were enjoying our campsite and time together as a family.”
A GoFundMe account has been arranged to assist the family with medical expenses as well as travel to South Texas from Copperas Cove, which is a four-drive to the southern coastal city.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-our-family-after-a-tragic-shooting.
“We live and operate our businesses about four hours away from where the hospital is located, so our families are currently staying in hotels while we remain close to them,” Stacy Ross said. “Doctors expect that at least two of the children will remain in the ICU before being moved to recovery rooms, and we anticipate being here for two to three weeks or possibly longer for their treatment and recovery.”
Ross said that the family is not releasing the names of the individuals injured until they are able to speak more with the detectives in the case.
“One individual was shot eight times and has had surgery and is in ICU recovering. Two others will remain in the hospital for two to three weeks pending the recovery process.”
“We are asking for prayers, positive thought and any support that people are able to give during the incredibly difficult time. Any donations will go directly toward helping our families cover hotel stays, meals and travel expense while we remain here supporting our children through the recovery,” she posted on the go fund me page.
According to an arrest report from the Nueces County Sheriff's office, Ernest Josiah Castillo fired gunshots at a crowd of people on the beach as he was driving away in a black 2009 Chevy pickup truck around 11:39 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.
The arrest report stated, "the Corpus Christi Police Department stopped a vehicle matching the description of a black Chevrolet pickup truck with three Hispanic males in it that left the scene prior to their arrival. CCPD detained three Hispanic males at the time of the stop."
Detectives found two shell casings on the beach that matched a Glock .45 caliber handgun located inside the truck.
Police interviewed the driver of the black Chevy truck, and he was able to confirm that Castillo fired multiple shots into a crowd of people as they were driving away.
The arrest report states, "the named suspect was wearing white and blue Versace shorts and had a gold grill on his teeth." Castillo was detained by police and remains in the Nueces County jail.
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