He's been on life support for the past two days and finally this morning at 10:30 Romel Palacio Sr. died at the KHMH.
The taxi driver was shot six times at his home on Sunday morning by gunmen who were allegedly looking for his son, who is a witness in an upcoming trial.
Police yesterday charged two men for his attempted murder - and today that charge was upgraded to murder.
28 year old Ashton Anderson and 19 year old Christopher Sosa were brought back to court today and arraigned on the murder charge - and remanded until August 28.
Yesterday, Anderson, Sosa and a 17 year old high school student were charged with keeping a prohibited firearm.
And while that trio of accused persons awaits trial - the family of this hard working taxi man must now bury him.
Today, they told us that the family is not sure that Romel Palacio Jr. will still testify in the upcoming trial:
Tyoris Palacio - Wife
"It was this morning about some minutes to 11."
Monica Bodden
"At the hospital?"
Tyoris Palacio
"I was at the hospital from before 8. We waited for the doctor to run wards, and then he told u that there was no change, so I left there - my aunt and I left there after 10, and by the time I got to town, I got a phone call to let me go back to the hospital. When I got there, they said that he had just passed away. It is very hard; I feel it especially for my grandchildren because they were very close with their grandfather. And the Kids, they are taking it hard, but I'm trying to be strong for them."
Monica Bodden
"Do you fear for your son's life?"
Tyoris Palacio
"Very much, I fear for him very much. If anything should happen to him, I don't think I can take it. I can't sleep; I have sleepless nights, and then the fear is there a lot."
Monica Bodden
"As a mother, would you discourage him from actually testifying?"
Tyoris Palacio
"Well right now, all of us are confused, you know, so we are not thinking clearly to make any kind of decisions right now. We are still in shock."
Though he was not killed on the job, Palacio becomes the seventh taxi man to be murdered in the last six months.
