The teenagers who allegedly killed a four-year-old girl by shooting her, her sister and mother while they were unloading the groceries from their car have been charged of the murder of the toddler. There was no bond for the three teens accused of the attack.
The three teenagers were identified as 18-year-old Philip Battles, 17-year-old Marco Alton Miller and 17-year-old Ferrell Dardar. Their Monday appearance in court marked the first time that they faced a judge altogether. They were at the Harris County Courthouse.
KHOU reported that the roles of each of the three teens have been revealed in the Monday morning hearing. Prosecutors believed that Battles was the getaway driver, Dardar pulled the trigger and Miller was the lookout. Allegedly, attacking the family of Castillo was not the first crime that the three teens did. Earlier, it is believed that they made several armed robberies.
The trio allegedly pulled up when Diana Gomez, the mother of Castillo, and her sisters were in the parking lot near their apartment. The guys then reportedly got out and demanded the purse of Gomez, which she did not give. They then started shooting leading to the death of Castillo.
Authorities were able to get a lead on the trio after a Crime Stoppers tip came in. Authorities also traced a stolen cellphone to Battles. A witness also claimed that the three teens were seen in the area where Castillo was shot.
All of the three teens are facing capital murder charges and each of them was denied bond. They are set to receive court-appointed attorneys. Two of the three teens, Battles and Dardar, are also reportedly out on bond stemming from an armed robbery and armed trespassing charges, Chron reported.
In the area, killing a child under the age of 10 is a capital crime. If they are convicted, the 18-year-old could face life in prison without the possibility of parole or death penalty. As for the 17-year-olds, they might face life behind bars with the possibility of a parole.
