Murder weapon at center of Palacios trial

Day nine of murder defendant Joshua Palacios' trial revealed the weapon used to kill Keith Castro. This morning in Judge Vern Perez's courtroom, the government called up three police officers to testify. 


On Aug. 2, 2019, the day Thomas Taitano self surrendered to Guam Police Department's criminal investigation division detectives he identified Joshua Palacios as the shooter who killed Castro. Castro was assaulted by Taitano then allegedly fatally shot by Palacios on July 28, 2019 in Yigo.

Guam Police department officer Carl Lizama testified that based on Taitano's interview detectives were able to identify Palacios as a person of interest and locate him at a duplex in Barrigada. Taitano has since pleaded guilty to his role in Castro's homicide.

"When we got there, of course, we were with swat personnel and we were with other CID detectives," he said. "When we got there, I believe officer approached the door at the time and I believe they identified Palacios to be at the door, and Palacios closed the door on them. Then there was an unsecured window that I entered. So I went in through the unsecured window, and I opened up the door to let the other swat personnel in and we gained entry through the bedroom door and we found Palacios and I believe his girlfriend J'lene Cabe asleep on the bed."

The search warrant was executed and GPD's Swat personnel seized Palacios along with his girlfriend J'lene Cruz Cabe. During the search, detectives confiscated a pistol and a revolver. The pistol is suspected to be the weapon that Palacios allegedly shot Castro with.

Government witness CID Detective Ricky Camacho also testified.


Assistant Attorney General Richelle Canto: And what did you find in the bedroom?

Camacho: Under the mattress of the bed was a pistol.

Canto: OK, and what kind of pistol was this?

Camacho: It was a 9 millimeter.

Canto: Was there anything else under the bed?

Camacho: There was a green sling pouch with another firearm, a 38 SPO revolver.

The two firearms were brought into evidence this morning by the government. Further, defense counsel Tom Fisher displayed the alleged weapons to the jury.

Palacios' trial resumes tomorrow morning at 9 .a.m in Superior Court Judge Vern Perez's courtroom.