Ruben Garcia Castillo, 16

Ruben Garcia Castillo, 16, a Latino youth, was shot and killed by shopkeeper Soloman Berhane, 38, inside the Normandie Ranch Market in the 5300 block of South Normandie Avenue in LAPD's 77th Street Division at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 11, police said.

Garcia had walked into the market and surprised Berhane, who was absorbed in the task of counting money. Hearing Ruben's voice, and believing that he was being robbed, Berhane grabbed his weapon from under the counter and fired, then "realized he had shot a longtime customer," said Det. Matt Mahoney of LAPD.

Berhane called 911 and tried to give aid to Garcia, police said. Garcia died at the scene. Berhane, who neighbors said is of Jamaican extraction, was booked for manslaughter and later released on bail with possible charges pending.

Dispatch: Shopkeeper kills youth [Originally published June 12, 2007]

Ruben Garcia Castillo, 16, was short in stature, playful and outgoing.

He had come to Los Angeles from Guanajuato state in Mexico about a year ago to work here and study English, said his brother Saul Garcia Castillo, 34. The two brothers worked together at a tire shop a block from the Normandie Ranch market.

Ruben was a regular customer of the market, and had a friendly, bantering acquaintance with its manager, Soloman Berhane, 38, area residents said. That afternoon, 2:30 p.m. June 11, Ruben told his brother he was going to run down to the store to pick up some batteries, his brother said. "Cuidate," Saul told him, wary of the street.

Ten long minutes passed, the brother recalled. Saul was tied up with a customer, fixing a tire, but wondered why Ruben was taking so long. Then he saw an ambulance and police cars down at the market. Apprehensive, he sent a friend to see what happened, and continued working. The friend returned and said, "Your brother has been shot."

Garcia had walked into the market and surprised Berhane, who was absorbed in the task of counting money. Hearing Ruben's voice, and believing that he was being robbed, Berhane grabbed his weapon from under the counter and fired, then "realized he had shot a longtime customer," said Det. Matt Mahoney of LAPD.

Berhane called 911 and tried to give aid to Garcia, police said. Garcia died at the scene. Berhane, who neighbors said is of Jamaican extraction, was booked for manslaughter, and later released on $100,000 bail.

Police called the incident a compounded tragedy. Berhane appeared horrified by what he had done, and desperate to try to save Garcia, they said.

At the crime scene shortly after the shooting, officers wouldn't allow older brother Saul to pass. They questioned him, asking if Ruben was a gang member. "He worked in a tire shop!" Saul told them. Ruben, he noted, was wearing blue work coveralls when he was shot. It was a half an hour before he realized Ruben was dead. Saul Garcia said he is confused by what happened, and is waiting for Berhane's first court appearance to get an explanation.

Saul was back at work the next morning fixing tires between phone calls to various family members to make arrangements. One call he had not yet made was to the siblings' parents in Mexico. Ruben was the youngest of 15 children. Saul said his heart constricted at the thought of making that call.

The store was closed and shuttered. Neighbors expressed dismay at the new graffiti, which suggested a threat of gang retaliation--the wrong response, said one, given what he called a tragic event involving members of two immigrant groups.

Photo: Saul Garcia, the victim's brother, was back at work the morning after the killing, making calls and arrangements between customers.