Ex-boyfriend’s bail set at $1M

Details emerge in shooting death of Natrona County High School student

CASPER — A teen suspected of killing a Natrona County High School girl had his bond set at $1 million Wednesday afternoon, and an affidavit revealed details surrounding the Tuesday morning incident.

Eavan Castaner, born 2008, made his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon and is charged with felonious first degree murder and misdemeanor stalking.

Brown’s death marks the second time in just over a month that a teen has been arrested in the killing of another minor.

Police responded to a call for a shooting just after midnight early Tuesday. At the scene, police identified the victim as 17-year-old Lenea Brown. Deputies at the scene observed Brown lying in the middle of Indian Wells Road near the eastern intersection with Buckboard Road with an “obvious” gunshot wound to the head and a large amount of blood around her, according to an affidavit.

Paramedics transported Brown to the Banner Wyoming Medical Center where she was declared deceased shortly after arrival to the hospital.

Witnesses at the scene identified Castaner as the shooter, according to an affidavit.

Break up and stalking

Interviews by police uncovered Castaner and Brown previously dated for about one year before breaking up nearly a month ago.

Castaner, in testimony to police, said he was beginning a relationship with a new girl but that he “still liked” Brown.

A police inspection of Brown’s phone revealed “text messages from unknown numbers which from the content of the messages appeared to have come from Castaner.” Brown’s phone also contained missed calls from the same numbers — almost all of which were unanswered.

Brown in a message to an unnamed person said that “I just want to live in peace and he’s not leaving me alone.”

Brown had additionally informed Castaner’s mother that Castaner kept calling her.

Messages and meet up

Brown posted screenshots of messages from Castaner late Monday night stating “I hope you die slowly im go celebrate when you die” and “I hope you die in the most painful way possible.”

On Monday, Castaner had been staying at the house of the girl he had been beginning a relationship with, according to an affidavit. The girl, only identified as J, told police Castaner had been messaging Brown and an unknown number messaged him and Castaner thought the unknown number wanted to fight.

“J figured that the person must have agreed to the fight because Castaner attempted to leave the residence,” the affidavit states.

Earlier on Monday Castaner mentioned he had consumed a large amount of Tito’s vodka at his father’s house before topping the bottle off with water.

Attempts to stop Castaner

As Castaner attempted to leave the residence of J, she “repeatedly told Castaner not to leave and attempted to physically restrain Castaner from leaving.”

Castaner made his way to Buckboard Park after leaving J’s residence, and a friend of Castaner’s drove to the park in an attempt to stop him.

“[The friend] repeatedly told Castaner to get into the vehicle, but Castaner refused,” the affidavit states.

The friend had made his way to see Castaner after receiving messages from him. In messages shown to the police, Castaner said “I’m actually about to kill someone NAME Like seriously I am.”

Later messages from Castaner said “I just want to kill someone, I have to release my anger.”

Castaner’s friend at the park also “attempted to physically restrain Castaner.” The friend told police he felt what he believed was a gun in the front of Castaner’s waistband, according to an affidavit.

A white van arrived at the park, and Castaner’s friend “repeatedly told Castaner to get into the vehicle, but Eavan refused,” the affidavit states.

Shooting

Brown and her cousin stepped out of the van, and Brown’s cousin was seen carrying a bat.

As Castaner “approached them he drew a Glock 43 x 9mm pistol from his waistband and a chambered round. Castaner told police he “acquired the pistol from his mother’s residence approximately three days prior and had been carrying it for three days. Castaner knew the magazine was completely loaded.”

Castaner told police “he did not know the gun was already loaded as a live round was ejected.”

Brown appeared to be preparing to punch Castaner when he shot one round at her from roughly three to four feet away, according to an affidavit.

Testimony to police from Castaner’s friend, who was in his car, alleges that Brown fell to the ground immediately and Castaner began to run.

Arrest and police analysis

Following the shooting, Castaner was seen running to the house of a girl he was “talking to” who lived nearby, according to police interviews stated in the affidavit. He unloaded the pistol and concealed it once he made it to the residence. He placed the pistol into a dresser drawer prior to surrendering to police.

“Castaner eventually exited the residence, unarmed, and was placed in custody and transported to the Casper Police Department for an interview,” the affidavit states. “Castaner, purposely with premeditated malice killed a human being, Brown, and did not act upon a sudden heat of passion,” the end of the police report states.

Alcohol and drug tests were conducted on Castaner, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 23.

This story was published on May 18, 2024.