Richard M. Romo, a 63-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, was found dead on March 23, 2025, in his home alongside 64-year-old Rita Chavez. Romo had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Chavez appeared to have been stabbed. Their deaths were ruled homicides following autopsies conducted by the medical examiner.
Authorities responded to a 911 call earlier that evening, reportedly made by Romo himself, indicating a violent altercation inside the apartment.
However, officers initially did not observe signs of distress and left without filing a report. Shortly after, a separate incident unfolded at Just One More Bar on South Kedzie Avenue, where a suspect entered the establishment armed with a knife and a gun. A 44-year-old woman was attacked in the restroom, suffering severe injuries from stab wounds, though she is expected to survive.
Police later arrested 57-year-old Robert Romo, the brother of Richard M. Romo, in connection with the crimes. He was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody. Investigators believe Robert Romo was responsible for the fatal attack on his brother and sister-in-law, as well as the attempted murder at the bar. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and additional felonies. At the time of the killings, Robert Romo was already on felony pretrial release for a narcotics charge stemming from an earlier arrest in Little Village.
During the investigation, authorities discovered a hammer inside the apartment, which may have been used during the violent confrontation. Prosecutors suspect that Richard M. Romo had placed the initial emergency call before being fatally wounded. Due to legal requirements, Robert Romo was unable to attend his detention hearing, and his case has been rescheduled. He remains in custody as the judicial process unfolds.
