Search underway for woman who went on date with driver later killed in I-20 shooting, police say

ATLANTA — Police are looking for a woman who they said went on a date with a man just hours before he was shot along I-20.

That man's friends told Channel 2's Wendy Halloran they can't understand why someone would hurt him.

Investigators said Saturday, they don't believe the woman was involved in Rodrigo Castillo's killing, but they want to talk to her.

They’re hoping she’ll see the coverage and call them. His friends hope so too.

“The first thing that went through my mind, ‘It can’t be Rodrigo, not my Rodrigo,’” said Jessica Dahn, a friend of Castillo’s.

Atlanta police said Castillo went on a date with a woman he met using a dating app Thursday night before he was shot in the head driving along I-20.

He was found behind the wheel, stopped at the exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Homicide detectives believe the woman Castillo was on a date with may be a graduate student at Emory or Georgia State University.

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Castillo’s colleagues told Halloran police haven't been able to get into his phone to find out who she is but said he paid the dinner bill around 11:30 p.m.

Castillo was well educated, an Emory grad, earned his MBA in Arizona and worked as a corporate finance manager who loved to work out.

Caffeinated Crossfit in Smyrna was his home away from home.

“You wouldn’t hear his name in that scenario and that’s why I think we’re all just sort of in shock,” friend Matt Meister told Halloran. “He loved life. Every day, he pushed himself and he pushed us at the gym.”

Jessica Dahn was close with Castillo. She told Halloran that she’s been battling breast cancer and said they planned to celebrate once she is well enough.

“If this is my Rodrigo, we’re never going to get to do that and I’m never going to get another hug from him or you know have another conversation with him,” Dahn told Halloran.

His beloved dog Itznek was also at the gym Saturday night.

“He was always by his side,” Meister said. “Itznek actually ran in the door that’s usually how it was when he came to the gym.”

Everyone at the gym said they were devastated when they heard the news.

“I can’t imagine why anyone would do this to him and I think that’s really the reason we just want answers," Dahn said.

Atlanta police are asking this woman or anyone who might know her to call them or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the victim's family. You can donate here.

Cox Media Group