Haines City, Florida – The Haines City Police Department has announced the arrest of a suspect following an attempted murder in the area of Tennessee Street.

At the scene, police found a 42-year-old Hispanic male inside a residence with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. The victim suffered serious injuries but is expected to recover.

Police say the suspect, Jervin Omar Mendieta Romero, and his former domestic partner of 20 years, were going through a difficult separation. Romero is accused of sending threatening messages to his ex, including an image of him holding a firearm.

On December 29, he allegedly told the female he would be coming to her residence. Around 5:45 p.m., Romero knocked on the front door but no one answered.

Police allege he went to the back of the residence, removed a screen, and entered through a window. Once inside, he confronted his ex and her new boyfriend. Police believe a verbal altercation led to Romero pulling a firearm and shooting the victim multiple times.

The female victim was not injured. Police say Romero fired five shots. The victim was shot in the hand, chest, and shoulder. He also suffered a graze wound to the head.

The suspect also managed to shoot off his own ring finger. This caused the suspect to drop the gun and flee. Jervin Omar Mendieta Romero has been charged with Attempted First-Degree Murder, Attempted Burglary with Assault or Battery, Written Threats to Kill or Injure, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, and Resisting an Officer Without violence.

HCPD says the suspect was in the country illegally and was a Honduran national. Police say Romero was trespassed from the victim’s residence last month and told not to return.