On January 21, 2003, Patrick John Greene, aged 30, was tragically killed in a shooting incident in the unincorporated area of El Cajon, California. The incident occurred just before 6 a.m. on Willow Glen Drive, where deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation responded to reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered two men lying on the side of the road, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts, both victims, identified as Patrick John Greene and 17-year-old Christopher Brandon Vigil, succumbed to their injuries. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office conducted autopsies and confirmed that the cause of death for both individuals was gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled as homicide.
The initial investigation into the murders of Greene and Vigil did not yield any suspects, and the case went cold. However, the San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Unit continued to work on the case over the years. In March 2022, nearly two decades after the crime, new evidence emerged that pointed to a suspect. This breakthrough led to the arrest of Michael Romero, who was 45 years old at the time of his arrest. Romero was apprehended by agents from the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force near his residence in National City on April 13, 2022. He was subsequently booked into the San Diego Central Jail on two counts of murder.
The specific details of the new evidence that led to Romero's arrest have not been disclosed, as the case is still being actively prosecuted. The San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Unit has stated that the investigation into the murders of Greene and Vigil is ongoing, with the circumstances and motivations behind the crime still under scrutiny. The criminal case has been submitted to the San Diego District Attorney's Office for review, and further media inquiries have been directed to the D.A.'s Office.
The arrest of Michael Romero has brought some measure of closure to the families of the victims, who were notified of the development by the Sheriff's Homicide Detectives. The community has been encouraged to come forward with any additional information that might aid in the investigation. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers, and the Sheriff's Homicide Unit remains dedicated to uncovering the full truth behind the tragic events of January 21, 2003.
