On the night of February 11, 2026, deputies responded to a call at about 11:33 p.m. at a Polk Street residence in Thermal and found two Hispanic men with apparent gunshot wounds. Both were given medical aid but were pronounced dead at the scene. One victim is identified as 50-year-old Oscar Romero Castro; the other is a 47-year-old Hispanic man whose name was not provided.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit led the double homicide investigation. Investigators arrested 43-year-old Alberto Tomas Padron of Mecca on February 12 and booked him on murder charges, but subsequent leads and public tips produced evidence that cleared Padron. He was exonerated and released on February 17. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active as detectives continue to follow leads.

Anyone who has information about the shootings on Polk Street or knew Oscar Romero Castro is asked to contact investigators.