On what should have been a joyous celebration of his 26th birthday, Jorbin Castellanos Aguilera, a Latino male, lost his life in a senseless act of violence on the evening of May 9, 2026. The tragic events unfolded at Red West Pizza, a popular family restaurant in the 600 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington, California. Jorbin, who had moved to the United States from Colombia three years prior, was at the restaurant with loved ones to mark his special day.
The festive atmosphere took a dark turn when a fight broke out between two women inside the establishment.
Being the man that he was, Jorbin attempted to intervene and de-escalate the altercation. It was at this moment that a male suspect, described in some reports as being between 20 and 25 years old, produced a handgun. The gunman fired multiple shots, striking not only Jorbin but also another man who was present. The chaos and terror that erupted in the pizza parlor left one man wounded and another, a young man celebrating his birthday, succumbing to multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics arrived at the scene, but tragically, Jorbin Castellanos Aguilera was pronounced dead. The second victim was transported to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, which occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department responded and cordoned off the area to begin their investigation. Initial reports from the scene were conflicting regarding the suspect. Some news outlets reported that a man had been taken into custody, with aerial footage showing an individual being placed in a patrol car. Other reports, however, stated that the gunman had fled the scene on foot. The investigation into the death of Jorbin Castellanos Aguilera was launched, leaving a family to grieve a man who was remembered as someone who would light up a room and make everyone smile. As of the latest available information, no suspect has been publicly identified, and no details regarding any arrests, charges, or convictions have been released, leaving the case unresolved and a family still waiting for justice.
