4 Shots: Son Accused of Killing 88-Year-Old Father in Dos Palos Home

Porfirio Romero, 43, stood in a Merced County courtroom on Thursday as law enforcement officers detailed the events leading to his father's death in December 2025. The defendant is charged with killing his 88-year-old parent inside their Dos Palos home. Detectives described a strained dynamic between the two men and provided a timeline of the morning the body was discovered.

Police entered the residence on December 16, 2025, after a welfare check. Officers found Romero's father face down in the living room. The victim sustained an estimated four gunshot wounds and multiple stab wounds. Detective Adam Coronado testified that the pair did not have a close relationship. He noted that the father had expressed concern that Romero might harm him.

Coronado stated that Romero admitted to shooting his father in the back of the head. According to the detective, Romero said it was early morning and he was experiencing intrusive thoughts. He claimed he grabbed a firearm and shot his father while the older man sat on a couch watching television. Investigators reported that after firing several shots, Romero unloaded the weapon. He then moved to the kitchen, retrieved a knife, and stabbed his father until he was certain the man was dead. Coronado noted that the largest knife in the kitchen block was missing during the evidence search.

Following the incident, Romero fled the scene and rented a vehicle. The next day, Dos Palos police located his phone at a gas station in Chowchilla. Officers attempted to stop a rented white BMW for a traffic violation. Romero refused to stop and led police on a high-speed pursuit that crossed three counties. He was finally taken into custody in Fresno.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Dominic Falasco questioned the detective about Romero's mental state on the morning of the killing. Falasco asked if Romero told officers he was trying to talk everyone out of doing anything. Coronado confirmed this detail. Falasco clarified that Romero heard voices in his head. Coronado agreed that was correct. The defense continued to center its arguments on the defendant's mental health condition.

Romero is scheduled to return to court on November 12 for his arraignment. The proceedings in Merced concluded after the testimony regarding the relationship between the victims and the physical evidence found at the scene.