A tragic incident unfolded in Little Rock, Arkansas, as an ambulance dispatcher was fatally shot in the parking lot of a local ambulance service. The victim, Cassandra Pena-Romero, 27, was shot on Saturday and tragically succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday. Her estranged husband, Omar Pena-Romero, 23, has been charged with capital murder in connection with her death.
The Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, expressing their grief and urging the community to keep Cassandra’s family, friends, and colleagues in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Greg Thompson, the executive director of MEMS, referred to Cassandra as a true community hero, recognizing the vital role dispatchers play in emergency services.
Omar Pena-Romero was arrested near Texarkana, Arkansas, on the same night as the shooting and is currently being held without bond in the Pulaski County jail. Initially, he was charged with first-degree domestic battery, violation of a no-contact order, and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a felony. It is expected that upgraded charges will be filed against him in light of Cassandra’s death.
According to court records, Cassandra had filed for divorce from Omar on August 11, shortly after he was arrested and charged with raping and assaulting her. In response to her plea for protection, a judge had issued an order for Omar to stay away from both Cassandra’s home and the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services facility. The couple had been married since October 2019.
Cassandra had been a dedicated dispatcher at MEMS since 2021, serving the Little Rock community and surrounding areas. Omar had also worked for the agency but was terminated earlier this month, according to a spokesperson for MEMS.
The divorce filing revealed disturbing details about Omar’s behavior leading up to the tragic shooting. He had been voluntarily admitted to a hospital psychiatric unit from August 1 to August 6 and had allegedly shown Cassandra a suicide note on August 7. The filing described multiple instances where he had threatened to physically harm her.
As the investigation continues, Little Rock Police and MEMS employees paid tribute to Cassandra by escorting her body to Arora, an organ donation organization. Tasha Flowers, representing Arora, highlighted the meaningful impact such donations can have, offering a small ray of light during this emotionally challenging time for Cassandra’s family.
The Little Rock community, along with the law enforcement agencies involved, is grappling with the loss of a dedicated dispatcher and the painful reminder of the ongoing issue of domestic violence. As the legal proceedings unfold against Omar Pena-Romero, the hope is that justice will be served and that efforts to prevent similar tragedies will be amplified.
