Rolando Romero, a 61-year-old security guard, was tragically shot and killed on July 2, 2018, while working at a public housing development in San Francisco's Bayview District. Romero was sitting on a bench and video chatting with his wife in the Philippines when he was approached and shot twice with a .38-caliber revolver. The incident occurred around 5:20 a.m., just an hour before his shift was due to end.
The shooting was seemingly random, and Romero was unarmed at the time of the attack.
The suspect, 24-year-old Cardell Mason Coleman Jr., was arrested less than 24 hours after the incident. Coleman was staying at the same housing complex where the shooting occurred. According to court records, Coleman propped open a locked door and left the building through the garage before approaching Romero and shooting him. After the shooting, Coleman ran back into the building and hid the gun in a backpack in the stairwell. Coleman was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. The case drew significant attention and outrage from both the community and law enforcement.
Romero's family, particularly his sister Lynn Romero Cruz, expressed deep grief and called for justice. They were grateful for the swift action of the San Francisco Police Department in apprehending the suspect. The family set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to bring Romero's body back to the Philippines for burial. The San Francisco Police Officers Association also contributed to the fund, showing solidarity with the grieving family.
The case against Coleman included surveillance footage that played a crucial role in his arrest. During court proceedings, Assistant District Attorney Heather Trevisan detailed the events leading up to the shooting, emphasizing the seemingly unprovoked nature of the attack. Coleman's father, Cardell Coleman Sr., expressed disbelief and sorrow over his son's actions, stating that his son was not in his right state of mind.
The murder of Rolando Romero highlighted the dangers faced by security guards and the impact of violent crime on families and communities. The legal proceedings continued as the community awaited justice for Romero and his family.
