PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A city judge has upheld murder charges against a man accused of killing a Philadelphia police officer last year.
Sniffles and sobs were heard as prosecutors played body camera footage from 31-year-old Jaime Roman’s uniform.
On June 22, 2024, Roman and his partner pulled over Ramon Rodriguez Vasquez around 8 p.m. near Tioga and F streets in Kensington. In his car were a few passengers.
For about 20 minutes, the interaction remained calm, and Vasquez complied. Then, Roman’s partner spotted a gun holster on the floor of the car. They tried to confront Vasquez about it, but he took off on foot.
Roman chased him, the body camera shaking. Then, loud pops were heard, and Roman dropped to the ground, motionless on his side behind a tire. Blood began to pool into the street.
“The way he spins around, squares up and fires three shots — there is a specific intent to kill,” said Homicide Supervisor for the District Attorney’s Office Bob Wainwright.
A medical examiner testified that Roman was shot in the ear, and the bullet exited his cheek.
Surveillance video picked up the chase. Prosecutors say Vazquez unsuccessfully tried to carjack someone, continued running, and a few blocks down, forcefully entered the home of a man who was sitting on his stoop. Vazquez was eventually arrested after a brief barricade.
Roman arrived at the hospital without a pulse. Doctors revived him. He remained in a coma for nearly three months, getting a part of his skull removed for brain surgery, blood transfusions and a coil surgery. He suffered from strokes and pneumonia before dying on Sept. 10.
Judge David Shuter upheld most of the charges, including murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree, murder, kidnapping and related offenses.
Widows of other fallen officers were in the courtroom supporting the Roman family, including fallen Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald’s wife. The trial for Fitzgerald’s murder is set to begin next week.
Roman, a father and husband, was in the same police academy class as Fitzgerald.