CLOVIS, N. M. (KCBD) – A 20-year-old driver faces homicide charges after a high-speed police chase ended in a fatal crash that killed his passenger on New Year’s Day.
Julian Romo was charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer and felon in possession of a firearm following the Jan. 1 crash that killed Jesus Romo, 27.
Clovis Police Department officers attempted to stop a black Ford Mustang at approximately 2:52 a.m. on Llano Estacado Blvd. near Main St. The vehicle failed to stop and fled at a high rate of speed into rural Curry County.
The car left the roadway, rolled and came to rest in a field south of CR 7 along CR G.
Officers made contact with Julian Romo at the crash site. Jesus Romo was found unconscious in a field away from the vehicle. Both occupants were transported to Plains Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Jesus Romo was pronounced dead at Plains Regional Medical Center.
The Clovis Police Department Major Crash Team and the 9th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit were activated to assist the Curry County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
Investigators recovered information from the car showing it was driven at a maximum speed of 149 mph just before the crash. A firearm was also recovered at the scene. The gun had a conversion device installed, allowing the firearm to be shot in a fully-automatic mode.
Julian Romo has been charged with homicide by vehicle, a second-degree felony; aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony; and felon in possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony. He is currently in custody at the Curry County Adult Detention Center.
The charge of unlawful possession of a weapon conversion device, a third-degree felony, is pending an amending of the criminal charges in the original arrest warrant.
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