In the small community of Truchas, New Mexico, a heated argument on the afternoon of April 20, 2025, ended in the tragic death of 44-year-old Hispanic male, Fernando Romero. The events unfolded at a residence on County Road 77, leaving the tight-knit town in a state of shock and disbelief.
On that Sunday, at approximately 3:46 p.m., New Mexico State Police were dispatched to the Romero home following an open 911 call where dispatchers overheard at least one gunshot.
Upon their arrival, officers found Fernando Romero inside with a gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene and attempted to save his life, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
Present at the scene was Fernando’s 18-year-old son, Ricky Romero. Officers detained the younger Romero after noticing what appeared to be blood on his hand. The ensuing investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau revealed that a verbal altercation between father and son had escalated tragically. At some point during the argument, Ricky Romero allegedly armed himself with a handgun and shot his father.
Following the investigation, Ricky Romero was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was subsequently booked into the Rio Arriba County Adult Detention Facility. The community has been left to grapple with the devastating consequences of this family tragedy as the legal process moves forward. Fernando Romero, a general contractor and heavy equipment operator known as a "jack of all trades," is survived by his wife of 21 years, three children, and a granddaughter.
