Buena Vista Townhomes, where the murder took place and where Romero lives.
Suspect Arrested Near The Scene
The Soledad Police Department has made an arrest in the homicide of 37-year old Eric Edward Shackelford that occurred last Thursday evening in Soledad. Police announced Saturday that with the help of the South Monterey County Gang Suppression Unit (S.M.C.G.S.) they have arrested 27-year-old Jose Carlos Romero for the murder of Shackelford.
On Thursday, September 24 at about 4:19 pm, the Soledad Police responded to the corner of Monterey Street and Oak Street on reports of a man lying in a pool of blood outside the Buena Vista Townhomes. When Police arrived they found a man lying in the parking lot next to the basketball court.
Police said he seemed to have suffered a major head injury. They also theorized that he had been dead for some time, and that his death was gang related. Shackelford was on parole at the time of his death.
After an extensive investigation police developed information that their suspect, Romero, was near the area at the same time the incident occurred, and lives in the complex. Police arrested Romero after they followed him when they saw him leave his residence on Saturday, September 26.
He was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Soledad Police Department to be questioned. Police also served a search warrant at Romero residence. He was then booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of possessing a firearm and controlled substances, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, and drug paraphernalia. Charges of murder will likely be added as the investigation continues.
Police investigators are still looking for anyone who has information about the slaying, and they are asking them to contact Detective Mollie Enriquez at 831-223-5140 or call the Soledad Police at 831-223-5120.
Jose Romero’s record of arrests goes back to at least 2007, when he was charged with public intoxication, disturbing the peace with bad language, and resisting arrest. In June of 2008 he was arrested for street terrorism, possessing a dangerous weapon, and violating his probation. He had another probation violation in 2009, and a DUI in June of 2010.
In July of 2010 he was charged with DUI, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possessing marijuana and marijuana for sale, resisting arrest, and battery on a custodial officer. Further details of that incident were not available. He was arrested again in October of 2012 for driving without a license and a parole violation.
