A Hazel Dell man was sentenced Aug. 16 to more than 10 years in prison for fatally shooting his roommate after an argument in July 2021.
Justin Romero, 32, pleaded guilty last month in Clark County Superior Court to second-degree murder. The agreed-upon sentence of 123 months was at the bottom of the standard sentencing range.
The victim was identified as 45-year-old Michael Neil Brachais. In a written statement to the court, Brachais’ aunt asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence allowed for Romero. She said her nephew’s young children will struggle to remember their father’s face when they reach adulthood.
“Maybe to others it’s just another life lost to gun violence, but it’s a life-changing, devastating loss to dozens of family (members) who survive in the deepest grief,” the statement said.
Court records indicate the men argued over Romero’s desire for Brachais to move out. An affidavit of probable cause alludes to some kind of recent conflict and notes a calendar found in Romero’s bedroom with entries on June 2, 2021: “Trash pile lit on fire, Arson suspected? – Mike??” and June 4: “2 incindiary devices throw @Hery, Crash stayed and witnessed, All signs point to mike as cause [sic].”
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded at about 2:25 p.m. July 6, 2021, for a report of a possible shooting at 620 N.W. 82nd St.
A neighbor said she had just returned home when she saw a woman leave the house at the corner of 82nd Street and Sixth Avenue, approach a man in a black pickup and yell for him to call 911. The man began to drive away, but he slowed to tell the neighbor someone had been shot, according to the affidavit.
The neighbor said she saw the woman return to the house, and she called 911. While on the phone, she saw the woman leave the house again, carrying a baby and leading three children to a green SUV. A man got into the driver’s seat, and they drove away, the affidavit says.
When investigators entered the house, they found Brachais dead inside near the front door, according to the affidavit.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office said Brachais died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators found empty .40-caliber bullet casings on the living room floor and several bullet holes in the walls, court records state.
The affidavit says the woman from the house, identified as Jessica Perrigo, later told investigators she was making food for the children when Brachais and Romero came inside from the garage, arguing.
Romero was yelling and cursing at Brachais to get out, she said, and she heard Brachais say, “Just shoot me.” She then heard several gunshots, came into the living room and saw Brachais on the floor, she said. She ran outside, flagged down a motorist for help, and then left with Romero and the children, according to the affidavit.
Romero was later arrested at a residence in Camas, court records show.
