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Investigators seek woman who was on date with murder victim hours before killing

ATLANTA — Investigators are looking for a woman who they said went on a date with a man just hours before he was killed early Friday morning on I-20 in Atlanta.

Atlanta police said 33-year-old Rodrigo Castillo went on a date with a woman he met using the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel on Thursday night.

Investigators said they believe the woman may be a graduate student from a local college, possibly Emory University or Georgia State University. They also believe she may be Colombian.

Officers said last Thursday night, Castillo was out with her in downtown Decatur at restaurants Leon's and Kimball House. Then, just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, he was shot to death on I-20 westbound, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Police don't believe the woman was involved in Castillo's killing, but they still want to talk to her in hopes of her being able to provide information that would help the investigation.

Atlanta Police News Conference

HAPPENING NOW: Investigators are expected to talk about the latest developments in the murder investigation involving a man found dead in his car on I-20 last week. Police say he was on a date just hours before with a woman he met on a dating app. https://2wsb.tv/2OjckJb

Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Investigators said they recovered three 9-millimeter bullet casings.

“We found three shell casings of a 9 mm weapon, but we’re not sure where the weapon is at this point, and we have no suspects at this time," said Lt. Andrea Webster, of the Atlanta Police Department.

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Investigators also said they do not know why the victim's 2009 Volkswagen Jetta was stopped in the middle of the interstate.

“So it could have been car trouble. It could have been an altercation. We are not sure at this time,” Webster said.

Police are urging the woman or anyone who thinks they may know the woman to call the Atlanta Police Department at 404-895-1083, 404-546-2589 or 404-546-4235.

BACKGROUND

Castillo was an Emory grad. He earned his MBA in Arizona and worked as a corporate finance manager.

He 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 Channel 2 Action News. "He loved life. Every day, he pushed himself and he pushed us at the gym."

Jessica Dahn was close with Castillo. She said 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 said.

A GoFundMe account has been created to help Castillo's family. CLICK HERE to donate.

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