An Arkansas man, Omar Pena-Romero, has admitted to shooting and killing his estranged wife, Cassandra Pena-Romero, after she filed for divorce. Omar, 24, will now spend the next 60 years in prison for his actions. The tragic incident unfolded over a year ago in Little Rock and has left many shaken.
Cassandra, 27, worked as an emergency dispatcher at the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) headquarters in Little Rock. On August 19, 2023, as she was leaving her job, she sent a chilling “SOS” message to her colleagues inside. Moments later, she was found bleeding in the parking lot. Cassandra was rushed to the hospital but passed away four days later.
Court documents revealed a heartbreaking backstory. Cassandra had filed for divorce just days before the shooting, accusing Omar of sexual assault. She also described a series of frightening events, including Omar threatening her and their young son. On August 7, 2023, she was granted a temporary restraining order after Omar allegedly showed her a suicide note and checked himself into a psychiatric ward, where he reportedly showed signs of wanting to harm himself and others.
Omar, who also worked at MEMS before being suspended following the assault accusation, wasn’t allowed near the building. Tragically, despite these protective measures, he confronted Cassandra in the parking lot. Cassandra had started a relationship with another MEMS employee, Alan Yeargan, who was the first to find her after the shooting and tried to help.
Police arrested Omar five hours after the shooting. In a letter to the media, he claimed he was overwhelmed by anger and sadness when Cassandra told him she wanted a divorce. He denied the sexual assault allegations, saying they were a ploy to get him deported to Mexico. He also admitted to being consumed by jealousy after seeing footage of Cassandra with Yeargan.
Omar wrote that he knew his actions were monstrous and said he would never forgive himself for what he did.
Cassandra was remembered as a hero by her colleagues at MEMS. Greg Thompson, the organization’s executive director, said she dedicated her life to helping others. “Dispatchers are the first step in saving lives, and Cassandra was a true community hero,” he said. Even after her death, Cassandra continued to save lives as an organ donor.
Omar pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and will serve his sentence at the Arkansas Department of Corrections. This heartbreaking story has left a lasting impact on those who knew Cassandra and the community she served.