William Rodriguez

Just two weeks before his death, William Romo-Rodriguez’s daughter, Stephanie Romo Santoyo, took to Facebook to wish him a happy Father’s Day, calling him "the best dad in the world! We love you so much! Thank you for everything and for all your support!" A loving father and a dedicated mechanic, William was a Hispanic male who had just celebrated his 41st birthday the day before his life was tragically taken. His sudden and violent death left his family and the Denver community in profound shock and mourning.

In the pre-dawn hours of July 3, 2015, a confrontation over a car theft turned fatal in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. At approximately 4 a.m., a would-be thief attempted to steal a Volvo SUV from El Mechanico, an auto-repair shop located at 3151 West Alameda Avenue where William Romo-Rodriguez worked. According to his son, Romo-Rodriguez bravely intervened to stop the theft of the customer's vehicle. During the ensuing struggle, he was either struck or run over by the car. Police reports state he was "ejected from a vehicle while attempting to stop a suspect." The perpetrator then fled the scene on foot, leaving Romo-Rodriguez with fatal injuries at the intersection of West Alameda Avenue and South Hazel Court.

The Denver Police Department launched an immediate homicide investigation. Their efforts quickly led them to identify a primary suspect: 16-year-old Israel Alvarado, who was also known by the nickname "Izzy." An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for the teenager. Investigators believed Alvarado might have fled to Colorado Springs and issued public warnings that anyone found to be harboring him would face criminal charges for assisting a fugitive.

On July 15, 2015, nearly two weeks after the murder, Israel Alvarado surrendered to the Sheridan Police Department and was taken into custody. The Denver District Attorney's Office had already made the decision to charge him as an adult due to the severity of the crime. Following his arrest, police released Alvarado's mugshot to the public. He was formally charged with one count of first-degree murder. According to a police report, Alvarado had "floored the gas" when Romo-Rodriguez tried to stop him from stealing the SUV.

In the wake of William's death, his daughter Stephanie organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the unexpected funeral costs. On the page, she expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support and prayers from the community. The family was left not only with the emotional devastation of their loss but also the financial burden of laying their loved one to rest.

The case against Israel Alvarado was set to proceed in adult court, with the Denver community awaiting justice for a man killed while defending another's property. As of the latest public reports from July 2015, the case was pending in the judicial system. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers had offered a reward of up to $2,000 for information related to the crime. The Denver Police Department urged anyone with information to contact them at (720) 913-2000 or Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867).