Truchas man accused of fatally shooting his father during argument

A northern New Mexico man is accused of fatally shooting his father during an argument Sunday.

Ricky Romero, 18, of Truchas, is charged with an open count of murder in the shooting death of Fernando Romero, 44.

Ricky Romero is being held at the Rio Arriba County Adult Detention Facility.

At 4:28 p.m. Sunday, New Mexico State Police received a call of a shooting in the 100 block of County Road 77, near the High Road to Taos, in Truchas.

Officers learned Fernando Romero had been shot in the chest and wasn’t breathing, according to an affidavit for arrest warrant filed in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court. He was pronounced dead at the scene, New Mexico State Police spokesperson Ricardo Breceda said in a news release.

As officers arrested Ricky Romero, they found blood on his hand, Breceda said.

Fernando Romero’s friend told police Ricky Romero suffered from mental issues and he and his father frequently argued, according to the court document.

Earlier that day, the friend told police, Fernando Romero’s mother told him Ricky Romero was chasing his father when she heard gunshots, the affidavit states. The friend told police she said, “Ricky killed my son! Please come!” police said.

On Sunday, Ricky Romero told police he and his father got into an argument about Ricky Romero being disrespectful to his grandmother before being told to leave, according to the affidavit. After he locked his father out of the home, Ricky Romero told police, Fernando Romero pointed a revolver at him through a small window above the door and yelled, “I am going to kill you,” police said.

After Fernando Romero re-entered, Ricky Romero got a pistol and Fernando Romero told his son, “Do it you (expletive) punk,” the document states. The father then charged at Ricky Romero who shot him in the chest, police said.

Ricky Romero told police he “intended to shoot him in the belly,” the affidavit states, adding that he did not see his father carrying any weapons.

Ricky Romero also told police Fernando had been abusive to him, his sister and mother, police said.