Florida authorities confirmed that the man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl in Ocala died after being shot during a police operation to apprehend him, while the minor was located safe and sound hours after an Amber Alert was issued.

How the kidnapping that triggered an Amber Alert in Florida unfolded

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued an Amber Alert on Monday afternoon following the disappearance of 13-year-old Juliet Louise Arioso, who was allegedly kidnapped from her home in the Shady Road Villas community in Ocala.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, investigators believe the minor was taken from her home sometime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on July 27, 2026.

Authorities identified 45-year-old Jason Castillo, a resident of Ocala, as the primary suspect, who was allegedly traveling with the teenager in a 2021 red Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

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According to the official report, the vehicle was registered with Florida license plate 77ERLW and it was believed both were heading south in the state.

The teenager was described by authorities as a young woman with brown hair and eyes, approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing close to 90 pounds.

Castillo, for his part, was described as a man 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 190 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

The rapid dissemination of the Amber Alert allowed different police agencies to concentrate efforts to locate both the suspect and the minor.

A pursuit ended with shots fired and the death of the primary suspect

 

The search took a turn around 5:20 p.m., when agents from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle in which Castillo was allegedly traveling.

The agents attempted to stop the SUV, but the driver decided to flee, initiating a pursuit that forced authorities to employ a P.I.T. maneuver to immobilize the vehicle.

After that maneuver, the Hyundai Santa Fe was rendered inoperable on US-441, near County Road 25A.

It was during the attempt to stop the suspect that the situation turned violent.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that shots were fired during the arrest procedure.

Castillo was injured and was transported to a hospital for medical attention.

Hours later, the Sheriff’s Office itself confirmed that the suspect died as a result of injuries sustained during the incident.

So far, authorities have not specified exactly how the shots were fired or what circumstances led to the use of lethal force.

The investigation into that episode remains open.

The minor appeared safe and sound, but questions remain unanswered

 

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At 6:05 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office announced news that ended the most important emergency in the case.

The teenager was located alive and in safe conditions.

However, authorities have not yet explained how the minor was recovered.

It has also not been confirmed whether Juliet Arioso was inside the vehicle with the suspect when the shots were fired during the stop.

While investigations continue, the southbound lanes of US-441 in the area where the operation took place remained closed for several hours to allow forensic work.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has also not revealed whether there are body cameras or videos that would allow for a precise reconstruction of the events.

The case is now divided into two parallel investigations: one to clarify the alleged kidnapping of the minor and another to determine exactly what happened during the confrontation that ended with the death of the suspect.

For now, the outcome leaves a toll of one alleged kidnapper dead, a teenager found safe and sound, and several pending questions about the police operation that concluded the case.

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SOURCE: News Channel 8 / NewsNation