Carmen Navarrete, 50, was killed in her Santa Fe home on the evening of Monday, November 13, 2023, alongside her 15-year-old son, Axel Gonzalez. Family members described Navarrete as a loving, hardworking Christian who had recently ended a two-year relationship because of escalating violence. Axel was a sophomore at Capital High School, remembered by friends as a happy, generous protector of his mother and three sisters.

In late October 2023 violence escalated. On October 28, Navarrete’s ex-boyfriend, Jose Antonio Adrian Roman (also reported as Jose Antonio “Adrian” Roman), allegedly assaulted her in Albuquerque, an attack that sent her to the hospital and led to a felony arrest warrant that was not served. Navarrete obtained a temporary protective order on November 9. On November 13 Roman allegedly opened fire on the house from outside, shot Navarrete through a window, entered the home through a kitchen window, and shot Axel twice at close range while other family members barricaded themselves.

Deputies who were dispatched after a call from Roman’s son arrived as Roman was attempting to flee; he later rammed a patrol vehicle, escaped on foot, and was located after about 36 hours. Roman was charged in the deaths of Carmen Navarrete and Axel Gonzalez.