Jurors in San Mateo County have convicted Romier Taguiam Narag of murdering his girlfriend, finding that the deadly shooting happened in front of the couple's two young children. Today, the jury returned guilty verdicts for first‑degree murder, felony child abuse, and misdemeanor child endangerment in the killing of 27‑year‑old Frances Kendra Lucero, who prosecutors say was fatally shot in March 2023 as she ran toward her Daly City home.
The verdict was first reported by KRON4, citing the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Jurors also found true sentencing enhancements tied to Narag's use of a firearm during the killing, according to the outlet.
Authorities say the shooting unfolded on March 6, 2023, after an argument that followed a family dinner. Narag allegedly drew a 9‑millimeter handgun and opened fire as Lucero ran toward their residence, while their children, then ages 3 and 4, were present, according to earlier reporting by KTVU. Witnesses and relatives described a frantic struggle as family members tried to wrestle the gun away and rushed the children to safety.
Prosecutors argued that the evidence supported the murder and child‑abuse counts, and a judge is now set to decide Narag's punishment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 5, 2026, according to KRON4. A memorial fundraiser describes Lucero as dedicated, genuine, thoughtful, loyal, and ambitious, and notes that community donations have supported her children; the campaign remains active on GoFundMe.
What the sentence could mean
Under California law, a first‑degree murder conviction generally carries a base term of 25 years to life in prison, as outlined in Penal Code section 187. Firearm‑use enhancements under the state's "10‑20‑life" statute can add consecutive terms: 10 years for using a gun, 20 years for firing it, and 25 years to life if a discharge causes great bodily injury or death, according to legal analyses of Penal Code section 12022.53. ShouseLaw notes that those add‑ons are stacked on top of the underlying sentence, leaving defendants facing extremely long prison terms.
Local response and context
Lucero's killing was one of five domestic‑violence homicides recorded in San Mateo County in 2023, a spike that pushed officials to launch a new Domestic Violence Task Force, the county announced in a statement from San Mateo County. The task force, along with a high‑risk case team, was created to better coordinate law enforcement, public health, and victim‑services agencies after officials identified firearms and intimate‑partner violence as key drivers behind the rise in deaths. Earlier coverage of Narag's arrest and court proceedings appeared in a report on Narag's Murder Charge.
Narag is set to return to court on March 5, when a judge will formally hand down his sentence. The jury's decision closes a closely watched case in Daly City while highlighting ongoing efforts in San Mateo County to better identify and prevent intimate‑partner violence before it turns deadly.
