Felon arrested for allegedly pocketing gun after Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting was ‘just trying to help,’ friend insists

A third person arrested in the aftermath of the deadly Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting allegedly pocketed a gun dropped by one of the suspects — but he and family and friends claim he was “just trying to help.”

Jose Castillo, who was celebrating the team’s win in the landmark Union Station, allegedly picked up a Glock 22 from the ground on his way back from the restroom after the gunfire broke out.

A witness said it was dropped by one of the shooting suspects, according to KCTV.

Soon after, police ordered Castillo, 36, to the ground.

He tossed the gun aside and was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

Police noted he reeked of alcohol, was slurring his words and had bloodshot eyes, according to reports.

Castillo, a convicted felon who isn’t being connected to the mass shooting, said he thought an officer had dropped the gun and that he planned to turn it over to police, according to court documents.

Two juveniles were also arrested following the shooting that killed mother of two Lisa Lopez-Galvan and injured 22 others.

Police say the gunfire broke out following a dispute.

“I don’t think we were anywhere near the altercation, he was just simply trying to walk out as everyone else. He stumbled upon that and picked it up,” a friend who was with Castillo at the parade told Fox 4 Kansas City.

“He was just trying to help,” the friend insisted.

Castillo was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and remains behind bars, according county records.

He is being held on $25,000 bail.

A gunshot residue test was taken on Castillo’s hands, Fox 4 reported, but the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office declined to share the results of the test.

Castillo, of Wichita, has a previous felony marijuana conviction in Kansas.