Ariz. boy, 8, charged in double slaying

ST. JOHNS, Ariz., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Police in rural northeast Arizona say they are holding an 8-year-old boy in connection with the shooting deaths of his father and another man.

St. Johns police told the Arizona Republic Friday that the youngster could face two counts of murder when he is brought before a judge at a special Saturday detention hearing in Apache County Juvenille Court.

"This is precedent-setting," Chief Roy Melnick said. "We are going to charge an 8-year-old with two counts of homicide."

The Republic said Arizona law considers children of that age to be not competent enough to face a murder charge, but Melnick said, "We think an exception can be made based on the facts and circumstances."

The (St. Johns, Ariz.) White Mountain Independent Friday said authorities identified the boy as Christian Romero, son of 29-year-old Vincent Romero.

The elder Romero was found shot to death at his home Wednesday evening along with Timothy Romans, 39. Romans was a co-worker of Romero at a power plant and had been renting a room in the Romero home.

The circumstances surrounding the shootings were not revealed and it was not known why police concluded that the boy was involved and placed him under arrest on Thursday afternoon.