On August 24, 2024, at approximately 11:30 p.m., 39-year-old Luis Ernesto Villanueva-Romero was found unresponsive in the southbound lanes of the 2000 block of North Towne Avenue in Pomona, California. Responding officers from the Pomona Police Department discovered Villanueva-Romero lying face down and immediately transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation led detectives to identify 38-year-old Christian Rubalcaba as the primary suspect in Villanueva-Romero's death. On December 3, 2024, Rubalcaba was located and apprehended in Montclair, California. Subsequently, on December 5, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a felon, destruction of evidence, and firearm enhancement.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the circumstances leading to Villanueva-Romero's death or the relationship between him and Rubalcaba. The investigation remains ongoing, and the Pomona Police Department encourages anyone with information to contact them at 909-622-1241. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Villanueva-Romero's death has been memorialized on platforms dedicated to honoring victims of gun violence, where friends and family have paid their respects.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community remains attentive, seeking justice for Luis Ernesto Villanueva-Romero.
