Jose Hernandez-Romero | Homicide Watch DC

Alexis Pineda Sentenced to 18 Years in Fatal Shooting of Jose Hernandez-Romero Inside Family's Restaurant

Sam Pearson — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:04:20 -0400

Alexis Pineda was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for the shooting death of Jose Hernandez-Romero at a downtown DC restaurant Pineda's family owned.

Pineda said he doesn't remember the shooting or understand why he killed Hernandez-Romero, whom he had never met before. He has said he was drunk when he fired the shots at 2:25 a.m. March 27, 2011.

According to testimony, customers and family members at the restaurant that morning wrestled Pineda to the ground and took his gun, holding him until police arrived. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana Fulton said the family's actions likely prevented Pineda from harming others in the restaurant.

Hernandez-Romero's brother, Marilo Hernandez told Judge Robert Morin on Friday that his family immigrated to the Unites States to flee gang violence. That he's brother's life could be taken in an apparent random attack hurt, he said.

"He never should have died the way he died," Hernandez said through a Spanish interpreter.

Pineda's defense attorney, Eugene Ohm, told the court that Pineda had a history of mental health issues and had seen a level of tragedy in El Salvador that "at least for me, is difficult to imagine," Ohm said.

In Spanish, Pineda said, "I want to ask the family to please forgive me and I want to state I'm sorry and really understand what they feel." His own mother, he added, was killed when he was three years old.

He said he recognized that he had "a very serious problem with alcohol and drugs" and hoped he could receive substance abuse treatment when he arrives in prison.

"I never want to be in a situation like this again," Pineda said.

Ohm pushed for a sentence less than the 26 years imprisonment prosecutors had asked for because of these mental health issues and because Pineda did not have a criminal record in the US.

Pineda pled guilty last year, days before a bench trial was due to begin.

A press release from the United States Attorney's Office is below:

WASHINGTON – Alexis Pineda, 26, of Suitland, Md., was sentenced today to 18 years in prison on a charge stemming from the killing last year of a patron at a restaurant in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.

Pineda pled guilty in October 2012, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. His friend, Jaime Cruz, 31, of Lanham, Md., pled guilty that month to obstructing justice in the case. Cruz was sentenced on Oct. 19, 2012, to three years of incarceration.

The Honorable Robert E. Morin sentenced Pineda. Upon completion of his prison term, Pineda will be subject to five years of supervised release. However, he will be deported to his native country of El Salvador at that time due to his other earlier conviction for an illegal re-entry charge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

According to the government’s evidence, Pineda, Cruz and another friend went to the El Sauce Restaurant, in the 1200 block of Eleventh Street NW, at about 2:30 a.m. on March 27, 2011. Pineda encountered the victim, Jose Manuel Hernandez-Romero, 24, inside the restaurant. Then, without provocation, he shot Mr. Hernandez-Romero one time in the chest with a revolver.

Immediately afterward, other patrons tackled Pineda outside the restaurant and wrestled the revolver away from him. Cruz tried to pry Pineda from the other patrons and threatened to shoot them unless they released him. Cruz also assaulted one of the patrons who held Pineda. Pineda repeatedly screamed, “I’ll kill him.” Despite the threats and assault, the patrons bravely continued to hold Pineda until the police arrived and arrested him.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives and officers of the Criminal Investigations Division and the Third District of the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security. He also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Witness Advocates Christina Principe and Melissa Milam, Paralegal Specialists Marian Russell and Meridith McGarrity. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shana Fulton, David Saybolt and Alan Boyd, who prosecuted the case.

Alexis Pineda Pleads Guilty in Shooting Death of Jose Hernandez-Romero

Jonah Newman — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:58:59 -0400

A week before his bench trial was set to begin, Alexis Pineda pled guilty this month to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Jose Hernandez-Romero.

According to the proffer of facts signed by Pineda and his attorneys, the government had enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pineda walked into El Sauce restaurant on March 27, 2011, and shot Hernandez-Romero once in the chest. Pineda attested that he had consumed alcohol prior to the shooting.

Pineda, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, had initially pleaded innocent to the charges of first-degree murder. In July, Pineda waived his right to a jury trial, and a bench trial was scheduled for Oct. 19. But on Oct. 12, Pineda pled guilty to the lesser murder charge.

The plea agreement includes a negotiated sentence of between 16 and 26 years in prison. Pineda is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Robert Morin on Dec. 14 at 11:00 a.m.

The plea agreement is below:

Alexis Pineda Pleads Innocent in Shooting Death of Jose Hernandez-Romero

Chris Amico — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:36:57 -0400

Alexis Pineda pleaded innocent today after a grand jury indicted him on a charge of first degree murder while armed in the March 27 shooting that killed Jose Hernandez-Romero in a downtown D.C. restaurant.

Police believe the shooting was random. Court documents say Pineda and Hernandez-Romero, both 24 years old, were at El Sauce on 11th Street NW. Pineda began staring at Hernandez-Romero and asked, "Que Paso?"

When Hernandez-Romero did not answer, witnesses told police, Pineda "produced a handgun from his waistband in his right hand, and shot [Hernandez-Romero] at close range one time," court documents allege.

A trial is set to begin on June 11, 2012.

Alexis Pineda Retenido al Cárcel por la Muerte de Jose Hernandez-Romero

Laura Amico — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:50:22 -0400

Note: At Homicide Watch we think it's important that all those involved in murder cases have access to the reporting about the case, no matter their native language or English fluency. For that reason, we have decided to present this post in both English (here) and in Spanish (below). If you would like to help us, as an on-call translator, email us at HomicideWatchDC [at] gmail.com.

Nota: Nosotros creemos que es importante que toda la gente afectado en una investigación de un homicidio tengan acceso a la información, sin importa a su lengua materna. Por esa razón, hemos decidido a presentar este mensaje en inglés (aquí) y en español (abajo).

El juez Gerald Fisher ordenó a Alexis Pineda retenido al cárcel por el ataque con disparos al Jose Hernandez-Romero en un bar al centro de D.C. el 7 de marzo.

Fisher dijo que lo hizo por que hay un riesgo que Pineda, un immigrante illegal del El Salvador, pudiera huir de D.C. en vez de ser juzgado, y también que el representa un peligro a la communidad. Un traductor ayudó a Pineda, quien no habla íngles.

Detective Anothony Paci de MPD dio testimonio el jueves, diciendo que Pineda le miró fijamente a Hernandez por “mas o menos un minuto” de una distancia menos de 3 metros antes de acercarle y fusilarle frente a unas 20 personas.

Antes del disparo, espectadoros oyeron a Pineda decir “¿Que paso?,” traducido por Paci como “¿Que pasa?” a Hernandez-Romero, y otros quienes estaban en el bar con Pineda le advertieron “tranquilo,” dijo Paci.

A fuera del tribunal juevez, el fiscal David Saybolt dijo que el “que paso” era en referencia a una interacíon entre Pineda y Hernandez-Romero en el baño del bar antes del disparo. Sayboldt declinó a decir que pasó alla.

Pineda, 24, no tiene una historia de crimen en los EEUU. Estaba bajo de sospecha en El Savlador por robo y de actividades con una pandilla, pero autoridades en los EEUU no saben si el fue declarado culpable.

Pineda vive en Suitland, Md., está empleado y tiene un hijo, dijo su abogado de defensa, Eugene Ohm. Ohm comentó al Fisher que el discurso preliminar de su suplica ha empezado.

La familia de Hernandez-Romero attendieron al tribunal el jueves. Ellos dijeron que Hernandez-Romero, quien tenía 24 años, estaba empleado como limpiador al noche y en una cocina de un restaurante al dia. Se le enterraron en El Salvador donde tiene una hija, dijeron.

Pineda se presentará en el tribunal de Fisher el 7 de julio.

Alexis Pineda Ordered Held on Substantial Probability in Death of Jose Hernandez-Romero at Downtown Bar

Laura Amico — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:04:08 -0400

Alexis Pineda was ordered held on substantial probability this morning by Judge Gerald Fisher in the shooting death of Jose Hernandez-Romero at a downtown D.C. bar on March 7.

Pineda, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, is a flight risk and a danger to society, Fisher said. Pineda used the services of a Spanish language interpretor to understand the proceedings.

MPD Detective Anthony Paci testified at Pineda's preliminary hearing Thursday, saying Pineda stared at Hernandez-Romero for "a minute or so" from about eight feet away before approaching him and shooting him at close range in front of about 20 people. Bystanders who witnessed the shooting restrained Pineda, wrestled the gun from him and identified him to Third District officers as the shooter, Paci said.

Witnesses heard Pineda say "Que paso," translated as "what's up?" to Hernandez-Romero, Paci said, and those with Pineda warned him "tranquillo" or "calm down."

After the hearing, Prosecutor David Saybolt said Pineda's statement, which could also be translated as "what happened?" stemmed from an interaction between Pineda and Hernandez-Romero in the bathroom before the shooting. Saybolt would not say what the interaction was.

Pineda, 24, does not have a criminal record in the United States. He was arrested in El Salvador on suspicion of robbery and gang activity but authorities in the U.S. do not know if he was convicted of those crimes, Paci said. Earlier reports indicated that Pineda was a native of Guatemala, Sayboldt said that those reports were incorrect.

"The information re: Guatemala came from [Department of Homeland Security], and I am told by DHS agents that persons from El Salvador who are being deported frequently give false home countries in an attempt to be deported to a country that is closer to get back to US from, e.g. that Salvadorans frequently say they are Mexican or Guatemalan for this reason," Sayboldt wrote in an email message.

Pineda lives in Suitland, Md, is employed full time and has one child, Defense Attorney Eugene Ohm said.

Hernanedez-Romero's family attended Thursday's hearing. They said the 24-year-old man had lived in the United States for just over a year when he was killed and he was employed in two jobs, one in a restaurant kitchen during the day and another cleaning at night. His body was sent back to El Salvador for burial, they said.

Pineda is next due in court July 7 for a status hearing. Ohm told Fisher that preliminary plea discussions in the case have begun.

Restaurant/Bar where Jose Hernandez-Romero was killed now closed?

Laura Amico — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:04:28 -0400

El Sauce, the restaurant/bar were Jose Hernandez-Romero was killed on March 27 is now closed, reports D.C. photographer Llyod Wolf on his blog Washington's Other Monuments.

I'll try to get by there this week to confirm.

Alexis Pineda ordered held on first-degree murder charge in death of Jose Hernandez-Romero

Laura Amico — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:45:02 -0400

A Guatemalan man accused of shooting Jose Hernandez-Romero, 24, to death in a downtown D.C. bar early Sunday morning was ordered held without bond today and presented with a premeditated first-degree murder while armed charge in the case.

Alexis Pineda, also 24, appeared in court shackled and wearing a white jail jumpsuit. He did not speak during his hearing and used the services of a Spanish language interpretor to understand the proceedings.

Authorities believe both Pineda and Hernandez-Romero were at El Sauce, a small Latin American restaurant near Logan Circle when Pineda, after staring at Hernandez-Romero, asked "Que paso?" When Hernandez-Romero did not respond, Pineda "produced a handgun from his waistband in his right hand, and shot [Hernandez-Romero] at close range one time," charging documents in the case allege.

Restaurant security was able to wrestle the gun away from Pineda, who fled out into the street before a witness restrained him and held him until police arrived, the charging documents allege.

Pineda's attorney, Eugene Ohm with the Public Defender's Service, said Pineda has no prior criminal history, is gainfully employed, has lived in the area for five years, and has a child.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Saybolt (corrected) said Pineda, an immigrant from Guatemala, is an illegal immigrant and subject to a deportation order.

Pineda is due in court April 21 at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Jose Hernandez-Romero, 24, Killed in Shooting

Chris Amico — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:10:40 -0400

District police are reporting an arrest in a fatal shooting last night. The victim, 24-year-old Jose Hernandez-Romero of the 1400 block of N Street, NW, died at a local hospital around 5 a.m.

According to a posting on the local police listseve, Hernandez-Romero was shot inside of an 11th Street business.

This morning at 2:25 am, police responded for a shooting at an establishment in the 1200 block of 11th Street, NW. They discovered that an argument between 2 adult males led to one subject to shoot the other in the upper torso. Ambulance transported the victim to the hospital where he later died of his injuries. Police arrested the suspect.

According to MPD's press release,

When officers arrived on the scene, they found the suspect being restrained by witnesses to the shooting. The suspect identified as 24-year-old Alexis Pineda was arrested and charged with Murder Two While Armed. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

We'll post more details as new information comes in.

( Washington, DC) — Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today a suspect has been arrested in the homicide that occurred in 1200 block of 11th Street, NW.

On Sunday, March 27, 2011, at approximately 2:25 am, members of the Third District responded to the 1200 block of 11th Street, NW for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival on scene, they found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at approximately 5 a.m. The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Jose Hernandez-Romero, of the 1400 block of N Street, NW.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found the suspect being restrained by witnesses to the shooting. The suspect identified as 24-year-old Alexis Pineda was arrested and charged with Murder Two While Armed. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

Read coverage in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Associated Press, Washington Examiner, MyFoxDC, NBC Washington, WTOP and WUSA.