Detectives Charge Man In March 13, 2025, Fatal Shooting Of Trenton Man
Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 10:00 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
TRENTON, NJ.- On Saturday, March 22, 2025, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey reported that following an investigation, Detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force have charged a 33-year-old Trenton man in connection with the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man that occurred during the late evening hours of Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Trenton, New Jersey.
Bruno J. Laboy Santiago, Jr., 33, has been formally charged with one count of first-degree Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose for the alleged shooting death of Wilmer Eliu Vidal Romero, 25, of Trenton, New Jersey.
The charges stem from an investigation that began on Thursday, March 13, 2025, when shortly before 11:30 p.m., members of the Trenton Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation near the intersection of Dayton and Grand Streets in the City of Trenton.
Police Officers Find Mr. Vidal Romero Shot In His Car
Upon arrival, Police Officers found Mr. Vidal Romero in the driver’s seat of his Toyota 4Runner, unresponsive from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Police Officers immediately began administering lifesaving measures, and Mr. Vidal Romero was transported to Capital Health Regional Center, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
During the ensuing investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force in conjunction with the Trenton Police Department, Detectives uncovered that Mr. Vidal Romero and Santiago had been involved in a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Liberty and S. Broad Streets in the City of Trenton.
Detectives Determine Santiago Shot Vidal Romero
Detectives further determined that immediately following the collision, Santiago purposely and knowingly shot Mr. Vidal Romero, causing his death. Accordingly, following the investigation, Detectives filed charges against Santiago, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
   On March 19, 2025, Santiago was apprehended on the Mercer County arrest warrant by a Deputy of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department in Louisiana during a traffic stop. Santiago remains in custody at the St. Tammany Parish Jail, pending extradition to New Jersey.
If convicted at trial, Santiago faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in New Jersey State Prison.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Homicide Task Force Detective Sergeant Roberto Reyes at (609) 256-0997 or Detective Andrew Distefano at (609) 209-3244. All calls will be kept confidential.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
