Charles Dustin Romero, a 20-year-old Hispanic man from Raton, New Mexico, known to his loved ones as Charlie, was remembered for his love of the outdoors and a talent for making people laugh. Born on February 9, 1996, to Dorian Sandoval and Charlie Romero, he was a proud father to his daughter, Anna Marie. Charlie found joy in listening to music, fishing, and doing yard work. His family, including his parents, brothers Michael Sandoval and Alex Torres, and sister Alexis Torres, recall his sense of humor and a beautiful smile that is dearly missed.
The life of this young father was tragically cut short on the night of Sunday, August 14, 2016. Shortly before 11 p.m., Raton City Police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of East 4th Street. Upon arrival at a residence at 1242 East 4th Street, officers discovered Charles Romero Jr. in the yard, suffering from devastating gunshot wounds to his upper chest and face.
Emergency medical services rushed him to Miners' Colfax Medical Center, but his injuries proved fatal. He was pronounced dead shortly before midnight.
The investigation into Charlie's death, led by the Raton Police Department, quickly identified two brothers as suspects based on witness accounts. Warrants were issued for the arrest of Adrian Duran, 22, also known as "Pelon," and his brother, Louis Duran, 25, who went by the nickname "Brown Boy." Authorities warned the public that the men, last seen fleeing in a red 1992 Pontiac van, should be considered armed and dangerous.
The charges sought against the Duran brothers were severe. Adrian Duran was wanted for first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Louis Duran faced charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A multi-agency effort involving the Raton Police Department, Colfax County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police was launched to apprehend them.
Thanks to tips from the community and Raton Crime Stoppers, the search for the brothers concluded within days. On the evening of Wednesday, August 17, 2016, law enforcement acted on a tip that led them to a residence at 1409 State Street in Raton. After obtaining a search warrant, officers found and arrested Louis Duran inside the home without incident. A woman at the residence, Sidney Pena, was also taken into custody on a charge of harboring or aiding a felon.
Two days later, on the afternoon of Friday, August 19, the second suspect was apprehended. Acting on another community tip, officers from the Colfax County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police located Adrian Duran at a home in the nearby village of Cimarron. As law enforcement personnel were arriving with a warrant, Duran exited the residence and surrendered peacefully.
Both Adrian and Louis Duran were transported to the Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center in Raton to await arraignment on the charges against them. The case was then handed over to the state of New Mexico for prosecution, officially marking the case as resolved through litigation as of August 2016.
A funeral service for Charles Romero Jr. was held on August 23, 2016, beginning with a recitation of the Most Holy Rosary at St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, followed by a Solemn Mass of the Resurrection. He was laid to rest at Fairmont Cemetery, leaving behind a grieving family and a community searching for answers.
