Oakland Man Dies After Charging Officers With Weapons

An armed man's struggle with Oakland police ended in tragedy after he ignored repeated orders to surrender a cache of weapons and charged at officers, officials stated. Jose Angel Castillo, 43, died following the gunfire that erupted near a homeless encampment at 40th Avenue and International Boulevard on July 13 just past 2 p.m., according to KTVU.

Dramatic video footage captures the tense minutes leading up to the shooting. Police alleged he was carrying two makeshift spears when officers found him in that location. The recording shows deputies trailing Castillo down the block while shouting commands for him to drop his gear before bullets were fired.

The incident began after the California Highway Patrol contacted the Oakland Police Department for help, police noted. Video starts with a call for backup as an officer reports being with a man holding two knives and acting aggressively. As officers approached, they could be heard demanding he release multiple objects, including what one deputy identified as a hammer.

"We're out with the subject holding two knives, being aggressive," an officer told dispatch in the audio. The scene quickly escalated into a full-blown confrontation. Officers repeatedly ordered him to put down whatever he was clutching. "Drop that," one voice said. "Drop that too."

Moments later, another deputy informed Castillo he was being detained and commanded him to release his weapons immediately. "You need to drop those right now. We're the police, man," the officer shouted. The standoff grew more heated as officers radioed they had a subject with two knives while another voice yelled, "Drop the knife!"

At one point, an officer announced he was readying a Taser. Castillo responded by pleading, asking repeatedly what was being done to him and claiming innocence. "What are you doing to me?" he demanded. "What have I done?" The standoff persisted with commands for him to stop moving and drop the blades echoing through the street.

"Stop right there," an officer yelled over and over again. "Drop the knife." Then came a rapid-fire sequence of orders: "Drop the knives. Drop the knives!" Castillo could be heard shouting back, "No! No! Leave me alone!" before gunfire broke out. Immediately after shots rang out, an officer radioed in that he had fired multiple rounds and ordered Castillo not to move.

OPD stated officers met an armed individual and issued clear commands for compliance. The man refused those orders and lunged at the deputies with a weapon, police said. Officers responded using both less-lethal and lethal force, the department confirmed. Castillo was struck by gunfire. Deputies immediately tried life-saving measures but he died at the scene, according to police reports.

Police initially stated multiple weapons were recovered after the deadly clash. The video appears to show the man carrying more than one weapon, with officers referencing two knives and a hammer during the encounter. Police later confirmed Castillo was armed with "bladed weapons" when they encountered him. No officers or bystanders suffered physical injuries during the incident.

The officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave following department policy, OPD said. The shooting has drawn attention from civil rights attorney Jim Chanin, who monitors the Oakland Police Department and spoke to KTVU about concerns regarding the use of force. "Did it justify deadly force? There are lots of people who are threats, the question is, does it – what kind of force is justified?" Chanin asked in his statement to the outlet.

The incident has now triggered multiple investigations into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding it.

Oakland Police Department officials confirmed they are moving forward with two separate probes into the incident involving the officers' use of force. One investigation is criminal in nature, while the other handles administrative matters. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has launched its own independent inquiry as well. Meanwhile, the Oakland Community Police Review Agency has received notification about the situation and will review the details.

"The Department remains committed to transparency and will provide further updates as they become available and as appropriate under law," a statement from OPD reads. However, police have noted that additional information is being withheld at this stage to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigations. This means specific facts about what happened are not yet public.

Fox News Digital tried to get answers on whether the officers remain on leave following the shooting and criticism from the community. The department also sought any extra context surrounding the encounter, but no further details were released in response. Community members are now waiting for clarity while these reviews proceed.