Father on 30-year prison term for motorist who killed son: 'This is the first time I've felt a little bit of peace'

A man who committed homicide following a post-Houston Astros game road rage incident has been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment, Houston-based media outlets reported. 

Gerald Williams fatally shot 17-year-old David Castro after the teen, his brother and his father left Minute Maid Park on the night of July 6, 2021. 

Williams and the Westside High School student’s father got into an exchange at an intersection near the ballpark, which ultimately led to the incident.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Williams, who evaded arrest for nearly a month after the confrontation, accepted a plea deal on Tuesday.

According to KTRK, Williams faced a potential life sentence had his case gone to trial. 

He had a criminal record and a stint in prison before the night he shot David, who was about to enter his senior year, the station reported.

Paul Castro welcomed the sentence, per KTRK. 

"It's been 18 months and two weeks,” the elder Castro said in the report. “This is the first time I've felt a little bit of peace.” 

Castro told the station his family approved the plea deal to keep them from reliving the events that resulted in David’s death by way of a potentially lengthy jury trial.

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that Castro expressed gratitude to law enforcement, the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA) Office, Crime Stoppers and the City of Houston for their assistance. 

“They heard David's story, the horror of it, and they wanted to do something to make the city a little better,” he said, KRIV reported. 

Per the station, Castro urged anyone who’s feeling confrontational while behind the wheel to think about the person who’s occupying the next vehicle. 

“And what I hope is the city comes together and realizes when something like that happens, and you hear something, you say something, and you report these people and get them off our streets, because if they've done it once, they'll do it again,” he said in the report. “And our community deserves better.”