FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 28th, 2018
Contact: David Carl (505) 288-2465
Santa Fe, NM – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that the Supreme Court of
the State of New Mexico affirmed the 2016 decision of a Los Lunas jury, sentencing Andrew
Romero to life behind bars, without the possibility for parole, for his murder of Rio Rancho
Police Officer Gregg “Nigel” Benner.
“We continue to mourn the loss of Officer Nigel Benner, who was taken in the line of duty, and
continue to seek justice by making sure that career criminal Andrew Romero stays behind bars,”
said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “I’m proud that my Criminal Appeals Division was able
to fight for the justice that Julie and the Benner family so greatly deserve. Today’s decision
affirms the hard work of New Mexico State Police, the Albuquerque Police Department, the Rio
Rancho Police Department, and the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in securing these
convictions, and my office in upholding them.”
Officer Benner was a United States Air Force veteran and Rio Rancho Police Officer. Romero
shot and killed Benner at a traffic stop in 2015