Harris County officials said three children hid and were not physically hurt during the fatal shooting.
HOUSTON, Texas — A 43-year-old man has been charged with murder after authorities said he fatally shot his common-law wife May 2 inside their Cloverleaf home while three children were present and later told detectives the dispute involved his back pain.
Jose Arquimides Romero was arrested after deputies responded to the home in east Harris County, where they found 39-year-old Yanira Nafin, also identified in reports as Yanira Marin de Romero, with gunshot wounds. The case has drawn attention because authorities said the couple’s children were inside the house when the shooting happened and because Romero remained at the scene after calling 911.
Deputies were called shortly after 1 p.m. May 2 to a home in the 14200 block of Texarkana Street in the Cloverleaf area, near I-10 East and Freeport Street. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Romero was accused of shooting Nafin during a dispute at the home. Officials said Romero called 911 and admitted shooting his wife. Gonzalez said Romero was upset because Nafin was “not taking his back pain serious enough.” Deputies found Romero at the residence and detained him without incident, authorities said.
Investigators said Nafin was found inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene after emergency crews tried life-saving measures. Some reports said she was found in a bathroom with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies also said a weapon was found nearby. The couple’s three children, reported to be ages 3, 8 and 13, were inside the house when gunfire broke out. Officials said the children hid and were not physically injured. Authorities have not released a detailed account of what the children saw or heard before deputies arrived.
Cloverleaf is an unincorporated community in east Harris County, part of the Houston metro area. The shooting unfolded on a Saturday afternoon in a residential area where sheriff’s deputies, homicide investigators and emergency responders gathered after the 911 call. Local reports said Romero cooperated with investigators at the scene. Authorities have not publicly reported whether deputies had been called to the home before, whether there were past domestic violence complaints involving the couple or what evidence beyond the weapon and witness statements has been collected.
Romero was booked into the Harris County Jail on a murder charge. The case is expected to move through Harris County criminal court as prosecutors review the homicide investigation and defense attorneys receive evidence. A next hearing date had not been publicly reported by Thursday. Romero has not been convicted, and the charge remains an allegation unless proven in court. Investigators said the case remains ongoing, with homicide detectives continuing to review the timeline, the 911 call and statements gathered after the shooting.
Family members described Nafin as a devoted mother and said the killing stunned relatives who had seen the couple as close. One relative wrote that the family was “shattered” and described the marriage as “almost perfect.” Local reports said the couple had been together for years, and one account said they had been married for 16 years. Relatives also wrote about the children, saying they would now grow up without their parents together. Officials have not released details about where the children were placed after the shooting.
The investigation remained active Thursday, with Romero jailed on the murder charge and Harris County homicide detectives handling the case. The next major step is expected in criminal court, where charging documents, bond matters and future hearing dates will shape how the case proceeds.
Author note: Last updated May 14, 2026.