Teen Faces Murder Charge After High-Speed Crash Kills North Carolina Deputy

A 19-year-old North Carolina man faces a second-degree murder charge following a fatal head-on collision that killed a Forsyth County Sheriff's Office deputy. Bryan Castillo is accused of driving a Chevrolet pickup truck at 100 mph, more than double the 55 mph speed limit, when he allegedly crossed the center line on Walnut Cove Road in Walkertown and struck Deputy Kaleb Mitchell's vehicle. The incident occurred over the weekend, resulting in Mitchell's death shortly after being transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.

Castillo was initially charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, reckless driving, speeding, and driving left of center. However, authorities upgraded the charges to second-degree murder after further investigation, citing the "malice" implied by driving at such extreme speeds. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill stated that this decision reflects an "abandonment of the social obligation we hold for one another." Castillo is currently held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 19.

Deputy Mitchell, 24, leaves behind a pregnant wife and a two-year-old son. He began his law enforcement career in 2022 with the King Police Department before joining the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in spring 2025. Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough expressed profound sadness, highlighting the devastating impact of Mitchell's death on his family and the community.