FBI Offers $20,000 Reward in Morgan Hill Shooting Investigation After Desi Romero Was Killed and Six Others Wounded at Birthday Party
Federal agents are helping Santa Clara County investigators review video and other evidence from the July 25 shooting along Hale Avenue.
MORGAN HILL, CA — Federal investigators have joined the search for a suspect in a mass shooting that killed 18-year-old Desi Romero and injured six other people during a birthday party in Morgan Hill. Authorities said the shooting happened on July 25 in a large open field along Hale Avenue.
The FBI said Wednesday it is assisting the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office as detectives try to build new leads in the case. Officials said the party drew more than 300 people, and investigators are reviewing videos, photos and other digital evidence tied to the event.
Evidence And Leads
Sheriff Bob Jonsen said the investigation involves a large number of people and a scene with multiple pieces of evidence. He said the size of the gathering and the amount of material left behind have made the case difficult to sort through.
Authorities said the event was livestreamed, including the shooting itself, and that video already collected by investigators is among the materials being examined. The FBI has also asked the public to send in photos, clips and other digital records that could help identify the person or people responsible.
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo said even brief recordings, social media posts or conversations may help move the case forward. The bureau said it is offering a $20,000 reward for information connected to the shooting.
Why The Case Matters
The shooting has become a major criminal investigation because of the crowd size, the livestreamed video and the number of witnesses who may have seen what happened. Cobo said federal help can be useful in major incidents because it gives investigators more tools to process large amounts of evidence.
He pointed to the FBI’s role in the investigation of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting as an example of how federal resources can support local authorities in a case with many leads to sort through. Officials said the public may still hold key information, even if it seems small.
Romero’s mother, Stephanie Trombly, has urged anyone who knows anything to come forward. She said her family wants answers and called on people with knowledge of the shooter to help investigators.
What Happens Next
No arrests have been announced. Investigators said they are still trying to identify a suspect and are asking anyone who was in the area and captured photos or video around the time of the shooting to submit that material through the FBI’s Morgan Hill shooting tip portal.
Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Officials said the case remains active, and they have not announced any charges or additional suspects.
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