A 64-year-old Colorado man accused of gunning down two young men in Huntington Beach in 1994 made his first appearance in court Monday on double murder charges.
Lamberto Ricci Castillo is also facing a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which could result in a death penalty sentence if he is convicted of killing Kenny Paul Sommers and Chen "Cosmo" Maui Blanchard, both 23, on March 31, 1994, in downtown Huntington Beach.
Arraignment for Castillo, who is being held without bail, was rescheduled to June 2. Castillo, of Alamosa, Colorado, was arrested a couple of weeks ago. He was charged April 27 and eventually waived extradition.
Huntington Beach police developed a lead about a year ago that ended up cracking the case, a law enforcement source said. Castillo allegedly confronted the victims as they were urinating near Main Street and Orange Avenue, touching of an argument among the three.
Castillo left and returned about 10:15 p.m. with a gun, then allegedly shot both multiple times before fleeing, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
