The sister of a man who was shot and killed by Rio Rancho police officers in January 2022 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the police department.
According to the lawsuit, on January 26, 2022, police responded to a 911 call involving domestic disturbance at a home on the 4600 block of Platinum Dr. in Rio Rancho. Officers were informed that Jon Paul Romero had a knife and had knocked down a bedroom door. Upon arrival, officers tased Romero and discharged over a dozen rounds, fatally shooting him.
The lawsuit accuses Rio Rancho police of multiple forms of negligence including failing to adequately train its officers, failing to have adequate safety polices in place to protect the public and failing to comply with existing policies.
As a result, Romero, who suffered from mental illness, “was unnecessarily shot to death,” according to a complaint filed earlier this month by his sister Celina Roybal in state District Court.