Police Kill Man Who Pulled Out Loaded Gun Instead of ID

The loaded .44 revolver found in Romero's backpack

Plainclothes police officers investigating a string of robberies in Sunset Park fatally shot a man around 2:30 p.m. yesterday by Greenwood Cemetery. The detectives spotted Michael Romero, 32, loitering on a quiet stretch of 5th Avenue and, believing he matched the description of a robbery suspect, pulled up to him in their unmarked car. After beckoning Romero over to the vehicle and asking to see his ID, he said, "You want to see my ID? Here's my ID," and produced a loaded .357-caliber revolver, presenting it to Officer Sean Kelleher, who was behind the wheel.

Officer Kelleher was able to jam his finger in the hammer to prevent Romero from firing, and during their struggle for the gun, Officer Tara Hayes jumped out and ran around the front of the car reportedly firing one round that went through Romero's shoulder to his chest. "She saved her partner's life, and possibly her own and that of a third officer with her unflinching, swift response," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said yesterday.

One unidentified witness provided a somewhat contradictory and incoherent account to NY1: "It looked like a routine stop to me so I was just walking by and I see an officer struggling with the assailant at the moment. And as soon as that happened they told me stop what you're doing and they went to the back of his pants. And is [sic] soon as he did that the officer fired two shots."

Romero was pronounced dead on arrival at Lutheran Hospital. In his backpack, police found a loaded .44 revolver, a gallon-size bag of marijuana, and two wallets that belonged to other people, stuffed with cash. Police sources say he has 10 prior arrests, including seven felonies, on his record. "I'd seen that guy buying cigarettes at the gas station and walking around the block," one local resident told the Daily News. "He was looking shady." And one of Romero's former neighbors in Bay Ridge told the Post, "He was a troublemaker and a thug. I stayed away from him. I have my family here, and we were very afraid of him."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on April 2, 2010 8:56 AM

Comments [rss]

tnuc

This situation worked out best for everyone. 10 arrests and this shit bag is still on the street. Now he can't waist tax payer money for a couple of years and then go back to terrorizing the locals. Good riddance.

We need to adopt the 3 strikes rule. NYC would be a lot nicer place to live. Property value would rise. Safer to walk around.

Good job officers. Street justice is sometimes the best route. The courts are to lenient on felons.

Any update on his rapping career??? DJ Stupidfuck

glob

Ten arrests, seven felonies, two loaded guns, one gallon bag of pot, one great guy. Justice is finally served.

I bet he wore saggy pants.

EVADIVA

FIRST OF ALL...NONE OF YOU PEOPLE KNOW HIM THAT WAS MY BEST FRIEND. HE WOULDN'T HARM ANYONE UNLESS HE FELT HE WAS BEING HARMED. THEY HAVE CHANGED THIS STORY 50 TIMES. THE WITNESS THAT SAID THAT BULL ON 71ST STREET IS A LAIR AND THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T SHOW IS NAME. MIKE IS HUMBLE PERSON AND HE JUST GOES ABOUT HIS BUSINESS. HE WOULDN'T HURT ANYONE. I KNOW HIM. I BET THEY DIDN'T IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS OFFICERS. WHERE IS THE SKETCH OF THE PROFILE HE SUPPOSEDLY FIT?? IF THE GUN WAS ALREADY DOWN CAUSE THE COP CLAIMS HE JAMMED THE GUN THAN WHY DID SHE SHOT HIM??? AND NOT TRY TO JUST TAKE HIM DOWN ANOTHER WAY. WHEN HE WAS DOWN THEY RAN UP TO CUFF HIM WHEN WITNESSES SAY HE WAS ODVIOUSLY UNCONSCIOUS. THEY USED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE PERSON THAT ALSO SAID HE SAW MIKE BUYING CIGARETTES IS A LAIR TOO. HE HATES CIGARETTES WITH A PASSION. HE WOULDN'T BUY THEM FOR HIMSELF OR ANYONE ELSE EITHER. HE HATED THEM...YOU PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHAT YOUR SAYING BECAUSE HE WASN'T ANYONE TO YOU. SHE'S A MUDERER. TO HELL WITH THAT B***H COP..SHE DESERVES TO BE SHOT!!! 23RD STREET IS WHERE HE'S FROM...HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND HELPED EVERYONE..SO DON'T SPEAK ON SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW!! R.I.P WOLF AKA MIKE MUMBLES..YOU WILL BE MISSED AND NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN..“NOW I’M TROUT” I LOVE U WOLF

CaptainWillard

“NOW I’M TROUT”

Good way of putting it, cause this post stinks like week old fish...

Greenpoint60

Officer Kelleher was able to jam his finger in the hammer to prevent Romero from firing, and during their struggle for the gun

This sounds fishy

jaycjay

Not really fishy. It's a trained technique to be used in close quarters against a gun with an external hammer.

Greenpoint60

The way I read this is that Officer Kelleher prevented the weapon from being discharged and then Officer Tara Hayes approched the suspect from behind and fire a shot that killed him.

JacqueMehoff

is that for real? guess I should have read the post before commenting.

jaycjay

"You want to see my ID? Here's my ID."

I'm not at all convinced that actually happened. Of all the links above, only the Post story states that he said that, and only in the written version, not in the video.

More likely he didn't realize they were cops. They waved him over to their unmarked car, and he probably thought they were lost or something and was going to rob them... so walked up and stuck his gun through the window.

horseplay

Armed thugs shooting armed thugs?

JacqueMehoff

you sure the cop didn't stick her finger in the barrel to prevent the gun from getting off a shot?

JMH

And one of Romero's former neighbors in Bay Ridge told the Post, "He was a troublemaker and a thug. I stayed away from him. I have my family here, and we were very afraid of him."
Interesting change of pace from the stories where the neighbors say "He always seemed so nice, I can't believe he would've done something like that."

GREGORYABUTLER

It seems Mr Romero was a prominent local asshole - who apparently will not be missed.

PathToWisdom

Officer Tara Hayes.

I always say a dead cop is a good cop.

You are one of the exceptions.

Mikey

This is a lousy haiku.

Eric

Seriously? Spoken like a true dirtbag.

Tangaroo

Such mixed messages with this post :|

kazubes

Poor Michael he was a good boy and aspiring rapper

Greenpoint60

I fogot to mention he was an alter boy who went to mass every Sunday

Papercutninja

He also mowed his elderly neighbor's lawn.

Papercutninja

he was probably an honors student on the way to college.

Greenpoint60

And helped old ladies across the street

PS He was a Boy Scout

sexisicilian

Good, one less low-life in Brooklyn.

Mordicai

Officer Sean Kelleher stuck his finger in the hammer like an action movie star & will be telling that story in bars for the rest of his LIFE. If you hear the story, you have to buy him a drink. THEMS THE RULES. Also nice work Officer Tara Hayes; going Rambo on a legit bad guy is nice work.

Potty Boy

I thought the article was gonna say....then the officer stuck his finger into the barrel which prevented the gun from being fired...

grizzzly

Based on the gun, it appears his last hit was Yosemite Sam

valeriob

You win 4 internets for this comment.

Son of Spam

"And as soon as that happened they told me stop what you're doing and they went to the back of his pants."

Drugs are bad, son.

Splicer

This public service brought to you by Officer Tara Hayes. Great job, officer.

GREGORYABUTLER

"You want to see my ID? Here's my ID,"

For real?

The late Mr Romero was quite the gangsta - a real live Tony Montana (except Michael apparently forgot to watch the end of that movie!)

jt10000

I shouldn't laugh, but that's a cool line.

Something like that happened at my high school during a dance. Some slightly older guy from wanted to come in and the kids at the door told him the dance was for students and their friends. At which point he pulled out a gun and said "Well, can I come in if I have this?" And then he walked away laughing. Scary and funny and scary.

But the best part was a few days later when someone realized he was a guy from the deli a couple blocks away.