Romero, Steven Eugene

Steven Eugene Romero (Gino), 13, had graduated from 7th grade at Panorama Middle School where he learned wrestling. Gino enjoyed playing Nintendo and Sega Genesis with friends. They also loved riding his mini-motorbike. On May 24, 1997, Gino and three teens were joyriding in a borrowed car. Several gang members chased the car and riddled it with 25 bullets, one of which hit Gino in the back of the head. He died a few hours later, the unintended victim of a shooting that was meant for the car’s owner. This murder occurred at Circle Drive and Lela Ray. Fear of the gang silenced the witnesses. A grand jury was convened resulting in ten perjury indictments. Two years later, the first arrest was made in Gino’s shooting. The driver, Juan Candelaria, was found guilty of 1st degree murder and 12 other charges. He was sentenced to life plus 241 years. On May 9, 2003, Ernie Medina was sentenced to 72 years for conspiracy to commit murder. His family erupted in court and came after Jennifer Romero, Gino’s mother. Four of them were arrested as they started to fight deputies attempting to subdue them. Jennifer has also been harassed by members of Candelaria’s family. The two shooters, Vinnicio Martinez & Socorro Guiterrez, remain at large. Socorro Anselmo Gutierrez, 33, 5’7″, 140 lbs, hazel eyes; and Vinnicio Rafeal Martinez, 29, 5’10”, 195 lbs, brown eyes. If you have information as to their whereabouts, please contact Detective Derek Graham at 719-444-7561. Jennifer Romero is a leader of Mothers of Murdered Youth (M.O.M.Y.)