A violent confrontation early Sunday morning in Amarillo escalated from a knife fight into a shooting, leaving two people injured and one person in jail, according to a statement from the Amarillo Police Department.
Officers were called to the 2900 block of South Pierce Street around 2:21 a.m. after reports of shots fired. When they arrived, police found a man lying on the ground near a car, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital, where he remains in life-threatening condition.
According to investigators, the chaos began during a late-night gathering when two women reportedly got into a heated argument that turned physical. During the scuffle, police say the women began wrestling over a knife, and in the struggle, one of them allegedly bit off part of the other woman’s ear.
The fight quickly drew in others at the scene. Police said that two men became involved in a separate altercation, during which they began fighting over a firearm. During the struggle, the gun discharged, striking one of the men.
Following the incident, officers arrested 31-year-old Esperanza Castillo, who was identified as one of the women involved in the initial fight. She was booked into the Randall County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/family violence.
Police have not released the names of the injured individuals at this time. The Amarillo Police Department emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges could be filed as more details come to light.
