On January 2, 2016, Jose Leonardo Romero-Sule, a 26-year-old resident of Dade City, Florida, was tragically killed. The incident occurred at an abandoned house on Tait Avenue in Dade City, where deputies responded to reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they discovered Romero-Sule behind the house, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation quickly identified a suspect, Matthew Lamar Folsom, who was seen fleeing
the scene on a red and white motorcycle while wearing a white motorcycle helmet. Folsom, a 29-year-old man, was apprehended the following day in Hernando County with the assistance of local deputies. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bond in the Hernando County Jail.
The murder of Jose Leonardo Romero-Sule was one of several violent incidents in the Dade City area, which had been experiencing a surge in gang-related crimes. Local law enforcement, including the Pasco Sheriff's Office and the FBI, intensified their efforts to combat crime in the community, particularly in high-crime areas like Tommy Town. These efforts included increased patrols and community outreach programs aimed at building trust between residents and law enforcement.
The arrest of Folsom brought some measure of justice to Romero-Sule's family, but it also highlighted the broader issues of gang violence and crime in Dade City. The community's response to the tragedy underscored the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement and residents to address the root causes of violence and ensure a safer environment for all.
