Santiago Nunez Romero, a 42-year-old Los Angeles resident, was shot and killed on December 16, 2017, in the 700 block of East 81st Street in the Florence neighborhood. He was outside his home at about 8 a.m. when an argument with neighbors—part of an ongoing conflict—escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight one neighbor produced a gun and Romero was shot; he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:15 a.m.

One neighbor, 27-year-old William Villalobos, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder on December 19, 2017; he was held in lieu of $2 million bail with an arraignment set for December 28, 2017. Investigators say a second neighbor fled before officers arrived and is believed to have fired the fatal shot; that person remains at large. The Los Angeles Police Department’s South Bureau Homicide is handling the investigation and the public is asked to share any information.

If anyone knew Romero, the people involved that morning, or has information about the second neighbor, please contact investigators or Crime Stoppers.