Suspect Arrested in Double Homicide Investigation

After a 36-hour effort between four agencies, law enforcement arrested Jose Antonio “Adrian” Roman—the suspect in a double homicide—Wednesday morning, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Media Coordinator and PIO Denise Womack-Avila tells SFR.

According to a statement on the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page, Roman was taken into custody in Albuquerque without incident.

He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder; three counts of shooting at a dwelling or occupied building; one count of aggravated burglary; three counts of child abuse; six counts of assault with an intent to commit a violent felony; and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer in relation to the shooting death of 49-year-old Carmen Navarrate de Gonzales and her 15-year-old son in a home off West Alameda Street Monday night.

The affidavit reports several of Navarrate de Gonzales’s other children and grandchildren were in the home at the time of the shooting. Three adults and one teenage witness identified Roman in interviews with a detective and told officers there were previous domestic violence incidents between the two.

On Oct. 28, the Second Judicial District Court issued an arrest warrant for Roman over a fight between the two in which Navarrate de Gonzales reported Roman grabbed her neck, used a knife to keep her from leaving and beat her with a gun and his fists. In that case, he’s charged with three counts of aggravated battery against a household member, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of false imprisonment.

The court issued a protective order for Navarrate de Gonzales against Roman on Nov. 8 at her request—just five days before her death.

Court filings report a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputy chased Roman near the home as he drove away in a truck, but he subsequently crashed the vehicle and eluded capture on foot.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said the New Mexico State Police, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Santa Fe Police Department each had a role in the search and eventual arrest.

Roman’s home address, according to court filings, was on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, but Womack-Avila did not provide the location of his arrest.

Officials expect to book Roman into the Santa Fe Adult Detention Center later today.