Clovis man charged with vehicular homicide in crash that killed brother

A Clovis man is charged with vehicular homicide after his brother died in a crash during a high-speed chase with officers, the Clovis Police Department said Wednesday.

Julian Romo, 20, is also facing charges of aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center on Jan. 1.

Clovis police tried to pull over a Mustang on Llano Estacado, near Main Street, when the driver fled at "a high rate of speed, travelling into rural Curry County," according to a news release from CPD spokesperson Roman Romero. 

Police said Romo reached speeds over 100 mph before crashing near County Road 7, roughly 10 minutes from Clovis, states a criminal complaint filed in Curry County Magistrate Court. 

"Investigators recovered information from the Ford Mustang identifying the vehicle as having been driven at a maximum speed of 149 miles per hour just prior to the single-vehicle crash," Romero said.

The vehicle rolled multiple times. Officers said the passenger—identified as 27-year-old Jesus Romo—was ejected and found unconscious in a field. 

"Jesus ultimately succumbed to wounds and trauma caused by the crash of the vehicle that Julian was driving," according to the complaint.

Julian Romo was also transported to the hospital with a possible punctured lung. 

Police investigated the scene and found beer cans and authorities believe the two were drinking prior to the crash, the complaint states. Officers also found a short-barreled rifle with one spent shell in the chamber. 

"During testing of this firearm, it was discovered the weapon had a weapon conversion device installed, allowing the weapon to be fired in a fully automatic mode," Romero said. 

Officers learned Romo was on probation for aggravated fleeing of law enforcement and aggravated assault on a police officer in Arizona after pleading guilty to charges in March. His probation sentence was transferred to Curry County.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.