Security footage, witnesses led Pueblo PD to arrest teen suspect in 13-year-old's shooting

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6 hours ago

Security footage and eyewitness accounts led to the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect in connection with the shooting of a 13-year-old girl, according to a heavily redacted arrest affidavit authored by the Pueblo Police Department.
Romello "Rome" Hernandez is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder in the first-degree.
The incident occurred when several groups of teenagers were hanging out on the Pueblo Riverwalk in the early morning hours of July 14, according to the affidavit.
The juvenile victim was in a car with friends in the parking lot when an argument began outside of the car, and the suspect allegedly told the people in the vehicle that "they were not leaving."
A witness told investigators she saw a "blue light" and heard a bang. She then saw the 13-year-old victim slumped over in her seat, according to the affidavit.
The witness drove the victim to the hospital, where she arrived in critical condition. She told police that they had been at a parking lot near the riverwalk, where several cars full of people had gathered to hang out.
The witness told police that she had not been paying attention to her surroundings before the shooting and had been "playing on her phone," according to the affidavit.
She stated that someone else in the vehicle, whose name was redacted in the affidavit, was arguing with the suspect prior to the shooting.
After the shooting, video surveillance captured four vehicles leaving the parking lot in a hurry. The video surveillance did not capture footage of the altercation in the parking lot, but it did capture the sound of a single gunshot, according to the affidavit.
On the evening of July 14, police investigators received a call from a witness who told them the shooter was Romello Hernandez. The witness said Hernandez had told his friends at work he was responsible for the shooting.
One of the vehicles that fled the parking lot was identified through surveillance footage as being associated with Romello, although police stated in the affidavit that the vehicle does not belong to him.
One witness stated they believe the altercation began because the shooter, whom they were unable to identify by name, was intoxicated and believed someone in the vehicle with the victim had drunk from a bottle of Hennessy that belonged to the shooter.
The witness stated that at the time of the shooting, he heard the suspect tell someone to get out of the car before firing once.
The witness was presented with a photo lineup of possible suspects and allegedly identified the photo of Hernandez as the shooter, according to the affidavit.
Other witnesses interviewed by police described the suspect as a short Hispanic male with a medium build, which matched the description of Hernandez.
Hernandez was arrested on July 24. Police told the Chieftain on July 29 that the victim was no longer in critical condition and was improving.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.
More crime news: Pueblo police investigating 7th homicide of 2025 after man shot and killed
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here's what Pueblo police say led to a 13-year-old's shooting