UPDATE (08/21): On August 20th, Kern County Sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic disturbance around 8:23 p.m. in Ridgecrest.
When deputies arrived they located a woman who was suffering from several severe head lacerations. The injured female told deputies that her husband, Jose Romero, 62, had assaulted her during a disturbance at their home with a handgun. The victim was able to get away and get help from neighbors.
After responding to the home deputies asked Romero to exit the home, to which he did, armed with a rifle. Deputies then proceeded to order Romero to drop the rifle, which he also eventually did. Deputies attempted to take Romero into custody which he resisted, but with help from Ridgecrest police officers they were able to make the arrest.
Deputies then located a dead female in the home next door to the victim's home. They were able to determine that after the victim had run out into the neighborhood, Romero had gone out as well looking for the victim and shot and killed the next door neighbor.
Romero was arrested for murder, attempt murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and spousal abuse. He was booked into the Central Receiving Facility and is being held without bail.
Romero's wife was treated for moderate head injuries.
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The Kern County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide in Ridgecrest. Sunday night around 8:20 p.m. police responded to a domestic violence call near the 1200 block of Garth Street. When deputies arrived on scene they found a woman dead. One man is now in custody. The investigation is ongoing.
