Ambulance dispatcher shot in parking lot, estranged husband charged.

Dispatcher Fatally Shot in Little ⁤Rock Parking Lot

A tragic incident unfolded in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a ⁢dispatcher was shot in the parking lot‍ of a local ambulance service. The victim, Cassandra Pena-Romero, 27, tragically succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday, according ⁤to Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services.

The suspect, identified as Omar Pena-Romero, the estranged husband of the ​victim, was apprehended by the police near Texarkana on Saturday night. He has been charged with capital murder ⁣and is currently held without⁢ bond‍ in the Pulaski County ⁣jail.

Greg Thompson, the executive director of Metropolitan Emergency Medical ⁢Services, expressed his ​condolences and praised Cassandra Pena-Romero as a true⁣ community hero. He acknowledged the swift actions of ‍law enforcement in apprehending the suspect and the medical care provided at‌ UAMS⁢ (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences).

The Little Rock police spokesperson revealed that upgraded charges are expected to ⁢be filed against⁤ Omar Pena-Romero in connection with the fatal ​shooting. It remains unclear⁣ whether⁢ he has ‍legal representation.⁢ An arraignment for Mr. Pena-Romero ​is scheduled for Thursday.

According‌ to court records, Cassandra Pena-Romero had ‌filed for divorce from her husband ⁢on ​August 11, following ‌his arrest and⁢ charges of rape and assault ⁤against her. A judge ⁢had issued a ‌no-contact order, prohibiting Mr.‍ Pena-Romero​ from approaching his ⁢wife’s home or the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services ‌on August 7.

The couple had been married since October 2019. Cassandra Pena-Romero had been employed by Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services since ⁣2021, while Omar ⁢Pena-Romero had⁢ recently been⁤ terminated ⁢from the agency. The divorce filing ⁢revealed that Mr. Pena-Romero had ‍voluntarily admitted ⁣himself to a hospital psychiatric unit ⁤from August 1 to August 6 and had shown his wife a suicide note on August 7.