The victim, whose identity is being withheld, recounted that Romero approached her, forcibly took her to the ground, and began assaulting her. Fortunately, she fought back and escaped, managing to find help from a passerby. Police responded promptly and arrested Romero shortly thereafter.
Further investigation revealed Romero’s extensive criminal record, prompting law enforcement to believe there may be additional victims and witnesses.
“What is disturbing is the number of times this individual has been arrested and released. He has continued to re-offend, and his behavior has escalated to a rape in a very public area in our town last night,” DeBoard said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Governor Youngkin Condemns Local Officials
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin voiced his outrage over the incident and the local handling of Romero’s prior cases.
He criticized Fairfax County prosecutors for allowing Romero to remain free. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I am heartsick for this victim and outraged that local Fairfax County officials recklessly release violent illegal immigrants who should have been prosecuted and deported. This is a dereliction of their most basic duty to keep people safe.”
