POLICE: WITNESSES ARE KEY TO SOLVING FATAL SHOOTING
Chicano Park was crowded as usual when the gunshots rang out the night of Oct. 23. The gunfire hit and fatally wounded 15year-old Brian Romo.
A month later, San Diego police investigators are convinced there are witnesses who haven’t stepped forward, leaving investigators with little go on.
The shooting occurred just before 10 p.m. that night. When officers arrived at the park, located between National and Logan avenues underneath the transition ramps that connect Interstate 5 and the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, some witnesses were there. Others had left.
Police Lt. Andra Brown, of the homicide unit, said investigators have been unable to find useful surveillance video and don’t know what led up to the shooting. They’re unsure whether the shooter fired recklessly into a crowd or targeted Romo.
“Either case is not good,” Brown said, noting Romo’s age. “We need to get the shooter off the street.”
She said witnesses are key.
“We know that there were people there that know what happened and saw what happened,” the lieutenant said.
She called on witnesses to contact police or Crime Stoppers at (619) 235-8477.
Brian, a San Diego High
School sophomore, was born and raised in Barrio Logan. He was the second youngest of five siblings. His sister, Perla Castrejon, described him as caring, loving, protective and respectful.
She asked anyone who knows anything to put themselves in her family’s shoes and step forward — think about “what we’re going through,” she said.
The family was upset about the Police Department’s response the night of the shooting, in particular because police stopped a silver Honda sedan that was going to head to a hospital with Brian in the back seat.
Brown said officers stopped the car to contain the crime scene. Once they stopped the sedan, they found Brian inside.
The family also contends that officers didn’t start CPR immediately and appeared more concerned about tracking down the shooter than rendering aid to the injured teen. Brown said Brain was breathing when officers found him and that they started CPR when it became necessary while simultaneously asking onlookers for descriptions of the shooter.
Castrejon thanked community members for their show of support — the community rallied behind the family after the shooting during vigils at the park and a car wash that raised funds to cover funeral expenses.
“Never did I think my brother was loved this much,” she said.