By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — The man accused of killing a 29-year-old Salisbury man lived less than a half mile from the victim.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for Jose “Daniel” Torres Castro, 23, of 2110 Harrison Road, in connection with the fatal shooting of Guillermo Montes-Gonzalez.
Montes-Gonzalez lived at 165 S. Oakhurst Lane with his wife, Magali Solano Garcia, and three children ages 3, 5 and 11. Harrison Road and Oakhurst Lane run parallel to one another.
He was found shot to death early Thursday morning in a cul-de-sac at the end of Barley Run in western Rowan County.
The sheriff’s office declined to comment on a possible motive for the crime.
“A release of information like that can make it hard for the district attorney to effectively prosecute the case when it comes to trial,” Capt. John Sifford said in an email to the Post.
Daniel Castro became a suspect after detectives found Montes-Gonzalez’s missing blue Plymouth van at Castro’s Harrison Road home. The sheriff’s office said Castro and his mother, Maria Castro, had made attempts to hide the van after the shooting.
Montes-Gonzalez’s widow told the Post she did not know Daniel Castro well but has been friends with Maria Castro for several years.
Maria Castro, 38, also of 2110 Harrison Road, was arrested and charged with accessory to first-degree murder after the fact Saturday. She is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $125,000 bond.
According to an arrest warrant, Maria Castro gave false information to investigators to help her son escape arrest.
Garcia said she’s surprised the Castros are suspects in the case.
“I want to know why they killed him,” she said through an interpreter Monday. “I don’t understand why they would kill him because he’s a good father and good husband, he doesn’t have any enemies at all.”
Garcia said her husband had spoken to Daniel Castro only a couple of times in the past couple of months.
She did not know of any bad blood between the two men.
“All I know is that my kids are without a father now,” Garcia said.
The Castros’ neighbors along Harrison Road were uneasy Monday.
Many did not answer the door when a Post reporter knocked and those who did wished to remain anonymous.
“I’m shocked and I’m really scared,” one woman said. “I guess you never know who your neighbors really are.”
The woman told the Post that she didn’t know the Castros very well, but they were always friendly.
Another neighbor said she won’t sleep well until Daniel Castro is behind bars.
“I don’t know if he’s hanging around here,” she said. “Who knows what he is capable of doing.”
Garcia said she’s relieved that police have pinpointed a suspect, but she still worries for the safety of her children.
“I pray to God that they catch the man who killed my husband,” she said.
Sifford said Daniel Castro has likely left the area because he knows there are outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Investigators said witnesses saw a silver Cadillac leave the scene of the shooting Thursday. It is believed to be a newer model CTS.
Sifford said anyone with information about the crime should call Investigator Johnny Lombard at 704-216-8684 or Investigator Adam Loflin at 704-216-8686.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.