In the summer of 2015, a life was tragically cut short in Denver, Colorado, over the attempted theft of a vehicle. On July 3rd, William Romo-Rodriguez, a male, found himself in a fatal confrontation at the El Mechanico auto body shop located at 3151 West Alameda Avenue. A would-be thief was attempting to steal a Volvo SUV from the premises, and Romo-Rodriguez bravely intervened to stop the crime in progress.
During the struggle, Romo-Rodriguez was ejected from the vehicle as the suspect
tried to flee. The injuries he sustained in the process proved to be fatal. His attempt to protect property led to the ultimate sacrifice, leaving a community in shock and a family to mourn their loss. The brazen act of the car thief turned a day of work into a scene of tragedy.
The Denver Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led them to identify a primary suspect in the case: a 16-year-old juvenile named Israel Alvarado, who also went by the nickname 'Izzy.' Authorities believed Alvarado was the individual responsible for the attempted auto theft that resulted in Romo-Rodriguez's death.
An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Alvarado. Investigators suspected he might have fled to Colorado Springs and publicly warned that anyone found to be harboring the teenage suspect would face criminal charges. Despite their efforts to locate him, and a reward being offered for information leading to his capture, the immediate outcome of the manhunt was not publicly detailed. The charge of first-degree murder indicated the severity of the crime and the authorities' intent to prosecute him as an adult once apprehended.
