17-year-old charged in shooting death of food delivery driver

BRIDGEPORT, CT (WFSB) – A 17-year-old is facing charges in the shooting death of a delivery driver in Bridgeport over the weekend, according to police.

Authorities said it happened Saturday, March 4 in the area of Boston Avenue and Palisades Avenue.

Officers responded to the scene after receiving a ShotSpotter activation and calls from people nearby.

Bridgeport Police Officer Sorie Kamara responded to the scene and apprehended a 17-year-old suspect after a chase on foot, authorities said.

Officers found an unresponsive 36-year-old man lying on the ground, police said.

Bridgeport police said the victim was a food delivery driver. He had several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities identified the man as Jiabin Lin of Flushing, New York. “There is no known next of kin in the US. Family in China has been notified,” police said.

At the time of the shooting, Lin was working as a food delivery driver for Yummy Yummy Chinese Restaurant on Boston Avenue, said police.

Police identified the 17-year-old suspect as Justin Castro of Bridgeport.

According to the arrest warrant, an officer saw Castro walking away from the scene and asked to talk to him.

Police said the teen appeared nervous and that he elbowed the officer during a pat down, before taking off.

Officers caught up to the teen, but not before he tried to ditch a gun underneath a parked car.

Castro was arrested and his case was transferred to adult court, said authorities.

In the homicide case, Castro was charged with murder, criminal attempt robbery first-degree, and murder-commission of felony. His bond is $3 million.

Known as “Mama J”, Jeanette Harris heard about the deadly shooting of a delivery driver just a few blocks away and can only wonder how it got to that point.

“You should be able to do whatever you do, do your job, go to work, have a family, and not have to cringe and wonder will I be next?” Harris said. “You ask yourself why, what were you thinking, could there have been someone to say think, what are you getting ready to do?”

In the arrest warrant, police said three people can be seen in surveillance video, in the area, moments before the shooting.

Investigators added a test for gun residue on Castro came back positive, and that shell casings collected at the scene matched the ballistics on the gun they recovered.

Inside a recorded interview room at the police department: “Castro acknowledged he had a firearm. Castro told his grandfather that he got the firearm from North Carolina.”

But when detectives told the grandfather the teen was a suspect in a homicide: “Castro and Moore requested to remain silent at this time until they consulted with an attorney.”

“What are we doing and what are we not doing, how are we not supporting families, youth and the next step for me is I’ve got to keep praying, praying for situations like this. This is one, but it represents so many,” said Harris.

Castro was also charged with interfering with a police officer, assault on a police officer, and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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