Florida Dad-to-Be Cody Castillo Shot Dead by Off-Duty Bahamas Police Officer, Family Mourns Loss

Tragedy struck over the weekend in the Bahamas when Cody Castillo, a 31-year-old lineman from Crawfordville, Florida, and expectant father, was fatally shot by an off-duty senior police officer, according to authorities and family reports.

The incident occurred Saturday evening, March 21, 2026, outside the Da Plantation Bar and Grill in western New Providence. The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) stated that an altercation, which began inside the bar, spilled into the parking lot. Police allege that Castillo entered his work truck and drove it “in a threatening manner” toward the off-duty superintendent, Police Superintendent Berniel Pinder. Claiming he “feared for his life,” the officer fired a single fatal shot. However, video footage reportedly challenges the official account.

Friends and family describe Castillo, originally from Huntsville, Texas, as a “kind, gentle” man who was not prone to anger. He was in the Bahamas working for Pike Electric to upgrade the transmission and distribution network for Bahamas Power and Light on behalf of the North Carolina-based company. Castillo was scheduled to fly home later in the week to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Makayla, 29. The couple was expecting their first child, a baby boy, in August.

The shooting occurred just one day after their anniversary, adding to the family’s heartbreak. A GoFundMe page created to support Makayla and their unborn son had raised over $50,000 by midweek, helping cover funeral expenses and providing a financial foundation for their child. The fundraiser reads: “Cody was working to support his family with Pike Electric in the Bahamas. Then, in a moment that changed everything, Cody’s life was taken by senseless violence while he was working abroad.”

The RBPF has launched a “fatal police-involved shooting” investigation. The U.S. Embassy in Nassau expressed “deepest concern” over reports that Castillo, unarmed, was followed to his vehicle before being shot. The Embassy has urged the Bahamian government to ensure swift justice in the matter.

This tragic event marks the third fatal shooting by armed off-duty officers in the Bahamas this year, raising serious concerns about police training and public safety. To date, the officer involved, Superintendent Berniel Pinder, has faced no charges.

Castillo is remembered by friends, colleagues, and family as a devoted husband, father-to-be, and skilled worker whose life was cut short while providing for his family abroad.