Agustin Adan Castellano held his head down and slightly swayed side to side as a prosecutor read aloud an indictment charging him with capital murder of multiple persons over accusations he shot and killed his common-law wife before turning the gun on his mother-in-law on New Year’s Eve.
The 28-year-old Edcouch man appeared via videoconference for the hearing in front of state District Judge Mario E. Ramirez Jr. on Wednesday afternoon.
Castellano, who was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting, is accused of shooting his common-law wife, 30-year-old Olga Guadalupe Guevera, and his mother-in law, 58-year-old María de la Luz Reyes Martinez.
The holiday shooting happened at a residence near Donna on Dec. 31.
A witness told police that he heard shots and that Reyes went to check on her daughter at which point the witness heard more shots.
Another witness responded to the residence after hearing the shots and began fighting with Castellano and managed to take the rifle away, according to the affidavit.
During the brief hearing, Ramirez instructed prosecutors to inform him in the next two months whether the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office will seek the death penalty.
Castellano’s next hearing is scheduled for June 2.
