
A New York man who shot two people after losing money betting on pool games at a bar in Port Jefferson, Long Island, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Alexander Castillo, 27, from the New York borough of the Bronx, was sentenced late last week to a nearly two-decade stretch by a judge at Suffolk County Court.
Neither of the shooting victims died, although both suffered life-threatening injuries. Castillo was convicted of various charges earlier this year, including counts of assault, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, and petty larceny.
The charges related to the shooting in December 2022. However, Castillo spent several months on the run, evading law enforcement.
The Incident
On December 28, 2023, Castillo spent several hours playing pool at the Royal Ball & Billiards venue in Port Jefferson, located on the north side of Long Island.
During this time, he wagered what the court called undisclosed but significant sums on several pool matches with other patrons at the bar. He lost, and then departed the bar.
However, minutes later, he returned. This time, he was armed and wanted his money back. He threatened those he had played with earlier and demanded they return the money he lost. A scuffle broke out and spilled onto the street, resulting in Castillo shooting the two victims.
One was shot in the groin and the other in the chest. Both victims’ injuries were serious but not life-changing, and they both recovered in the hospital.
The Sentence
Castillo then fled the scene before police arrived. He remained at large until February 10, 2024, when Suffolk Police officers tracked him down and arrested him in Manhattan.
“With this sentence, we want the public to know that we are holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, as reported in local media.
“The defendant attempted to settle a petty financial dispute with a gun, but instead will be spending the next 18 years in prison.”
In other recent news of an unhappy losing gambler getting violent, a French man was banned for life from the super-rich European enclave of Monaco after assaulting his partner on the casino floor.
The man, a restaurant manager from Nice, struck and manhandled the victim in the Monte Carlo Casino after she refused to lend him money to cover his gambling losses.

David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.