Richmond, CA: Richmond cops wound suspect in restaurant killing

Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011
SAN LEANDRO --

A suspect in the slaying of a woman found dead in a Richmond restaurant was shot and wounded by a police SWAT team in San Leandro early Thursday when he brandished an apparent rifle, police said.

Rafael Zarate, 42, was shot at a duplex on the 12500 block of Central Avenue in San Leandro at about 1:40 a.m. by a Richmond police SWAT team at the end of a nearly 14-hour standoff, said Richmond police Lt. Bisa French.

Zarate was taken to a hospital. His condition was not released.

He is suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend, Jensy Romero, 30, an employee of Angie's Bakery and Restaurant. Romero's body was found by the restaurant owner at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a restroom of the business at 12889 San Pablo Ave. in Richmond.

Zarate and Romero had recently broken up, but Zarate had been stalking her for at least a month, police said.

San Leandro police received a tip that Zarate was in an upper floor of the duplex at about 10 a.m. Wednesday and called in their SWAT team when Zarate refused to surrender, authorities said.

The Richmond police SWAT team took over at about 10 p.m. and shot Zarate when he walked downstairs with what appeared to be a rifle, French said.

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.