High speed police chase ends in fatality
Media Release, Clovis Police Department
Clovis, NM – January 7, 2026 – On Thursday, January 1, 2026, at approximately 2:52 a.m., officers with the Clovis Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a black Ford Mustang on Llano Estacado Boulevard near Main Street. The vehicle failed to stop and fled at a high rate of speed, travelling into rural Curry County. The Ford Mustang left the roadway, rolled and came to rest in a field south of County Road 7 along County Road G.
Officers made contact with the driver, identified as Julian Romo, 20, at the crash site. A second occupant, Jesus Romo, 27, was located unconscious in a field away from the vehicle. Both occupants were transported to Plains Regional Medical Center for treatment. Despite medical intervention, Jesus Romo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at Plains Regional Medical Center.
The Clovis Police Department Major Crash Team and the Ninth Judicial District Major Crimes Unit were activated to assist the Curry County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
Investigators recovered information from the Ford Mustang identifying the vehicle as having been driven at a maximum speed of 149 miles per hour just prior to the single vehicle crash. A firearm was also recovered from the Ford Mustang. During testing of this firearm, it was discovered the weapon had a weapon conversion device installed, allowing the weapon to be fired in a fully automatic mode.
An arrest warrant was drawn up and served on the Ford Mustang’s driver, Julian Romo. Julian Romo has been charged with Homicide by Vehicle (a 2nd degree felony), Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer (3rd degree felony), and Felon in Possession of a Firearm (3rd degree felony). Julian Romo is currently in custody at the Curry County Adult Detention Center. The charge of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon Conversion Device (a 3rd degree felony) is pending an amending of the criminal charges drawn up in the original arrest warrant.
