Coordinated work between Homicide and TITANS Unit detectives, along with SWAT officers, led to the arrests late Tuesday night of Gabrielle Castelianos, 20, and Nicholas Washington, 25, on drug and gun charges at a South Nashville apartment. The two are also under investigation concerning the April 9 murder of Mario Armondo Rios Ramos, 33, in the parking lot of Biltmore Apartments on Glastonbury Road.
Earlier Tuesday, Homicide Detective Chris Dickerson, who is leading the investigation into Ramos’ murder, swore out an aggravated robbery warrant against Castelianos for the armed hold-up of La Mexicana Mercado at 989 Murfreesboro Pike at 8:45 a.m. on April 9. The getaway vehicle in the robbery was Ramos’ pickup truck. Detective Dickerson has determined that Ramos gave his truck to Castelianos to drive on April 7. The truck was parked and still running at the murder scene at 10:45 a.m. on April 9.
TITANS detectives on Tuesday evening established surveillance at Castelianos’ apartment in the Overlook complex at 727 Bell Road. At one point, the couple left and drove to the Smyrna area where they were observed conducting an apparent hand-to-hand drug transaction. They then drove back to Overlook apartments and went into a unit leased by Castelianos. Despite repeated commands for Castelianos to come outside and surrender on the robbery warrant, she and Washington stayed in the apartment for approximately 90 minutes and ultimately exited as SWAT officers were assembling.
During the execution of a search warrant at the apartment, detectives recovered four pistols, 32 Ecstasy pills, three small bags of marijuana, 12 vape pens containing THC, and 14 bags of marijuana edibles.
In addition to aggravated robbery, Castelianos is charged with four counts of felony gun possession, possession of Ecstasy for resale, and possession of marijuana for resale. Her bond is set at $91,500.
Washington is charged with four counts of felony gun possession, possession of Ecstasy for resale, and possession of marijuana for resale. His bond is set at $63,000.
Work on the homicide case is continuing.
