Ex-Samohi Football Player Found Dead Outside UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

SANTA MONICA, CA — A former Santa Monica High School student was found dead Sunday outside on the street near the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, police said.

The man was identified as 18-year-old Juan Castillo. He was found with a head injury just after 5 a.m., lying on the ground in the 1300 block of 16th Street, near the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, near 16th and Arizona streets, Santa Monica Police Lt. Saul Rodriguez said.

Castillo was a football player at Samohi who graduated last year, according to NBC4.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, Rodriguez said.

Detectives were pursuing a possible link to a 12:45 a.m. report of gunfire about a mile away in the 2100 block of Pico Boulevard.

Police discovered evidence of a shooting there but could not locate any victims or suspects.

Anyone with information can call detectives D. Larios at (310) 458-8937 or B. Cooper at (310) 458-8478. Santa Monica police also can be reached at (310) 458-8478.

-- City News Service contributed to this report. Photo via Shutterstock