Man sentenced to life in prison for 2023 fatal Glendale shooting

PHOENIX — A 25-year-old man was sentenced to natural life in prison Wednesday for fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend and wounding two others during a 2023 domestic violence incident at a Glendale apartment, prosecutors said.

Rueben Rocha received the life sentence for the June 4, 2023, murder of Jordin Castillo, 20, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced. Rocha also was sentenced to an additional 52.5 years in prison, 15 of which must be served consecutively to the life term.

The life sentence followed a nine-day jury trial. He was sentenced on March 18.

Shooting left 2 others seriously injured

Rocha broke into Castillo’s third-floor apartment through the balcony’s glass door while six people were inside, including the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, according to prosecutors. Two adults hid with the child during the attack.

Castillo called 911 and could be heard telling Rocha to leave and that she had an order of protection against him, prosecutors said. Rocha opened fire while she remained on the phone with dispatch, killing her and seriously injuring two friends.

Rocha fired 19 shots and continued shooting even as victims lay on the floor, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

A jury convicted Rocha of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of disorderly conduct and interfering with judicial proceedings.

“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,” Mitchell said in a statement.

Rocha turned himself in to Glendale police the day after the shooting.

Prosecutors Lindsay Gephardt and Melissa Certo tried the case.

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