Full Notification

Pursuant to the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association Employee Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has assumed the primary investigative responsibilities into the following event. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is assisting in the investigation. The investigation is on-going. After interviewing the involved officers, the witnesses identified to this point, and examining the crime scene, the following information can be released.

On Friday 2/14/14, at 7:58 PM, Healdsburg Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a woman reporting that an unknown male intruder had entered their home and was struggling with her husband. Officers responded to the scene and arrived approximately 3 minutes later and found the homeowner in a struggle with the suspect in an attempt to detain him. As the first responding officer joined in the struggle to detain the suspect, the suspect shot himself with a handgun he had secreted somewhere on his person. The handgun was later found to be registered to the suspect, whom was later identified as 43 year old Healdsburg resident, Everardo Romo. Fire and EMS responded within minutes and ultimately pronounced Romo’s death on scene.

At the time of this incident, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives were actively looking for Romo who was wanted as an alleged suspect in a sexual assault case. Detectives had gotten a warrant for his arrest on 2/13/14, but were unable to locate him at his residence.

On 2/14/14, at 6:15 PM, the Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting that Romo had just phoned a family member and threatened suicide. The family member reported hearing what sounded like a gunshot prior to the call ending. Deputies and Sheriff’s helicopter, Henry-1, responded to an area on Kinley Dr, in an unincorporated area of Healdsburg, after receiving information that Romo’s phone was “pinging” in that area. Deputies conducted an extensive search of the area, but could not locate Romo. Deputies were informed that Romo’s cell phone had been shut off and was no longer pinging in any area. Deputies were still conducting a search when the Healdsburg incident occurred.

An autopsy for Romo has been scheduled for today. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate this incident. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to phone Sheriff’s Investigations at 707-565-2185.

Any further press inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Carlos Basurto at 707-565-2185.

Refer to CR# - 140214-035