Man accused of 2022 murder in Kearney arrested in Arizona

KEARNEY, Neb. -- A man who has been on the run for nearly two years from murder charges in central Nebraska is now in police custody.

Kearney Police said authorities in Phoenix, Ariz. arrested 24-year-old Romeo Chambers on Friday. He was wanted in connection to the shooting death of Jared Shinpaugh in Kearney on Jan. 16, 2022. Police said Chambers shot Shinpaugh in what has been described as an attempted robbery with large amounts of drugs present.

According to a news release, Phoenix Police arrested Chambers for trespassing at an apartment. He is in the Maricopa County Jail awaiting extradition to Buffalo County. He was also wanted in connection to a shooting in Denver from 2023.

“I’m thankful and relieved this dangerous fugitive has been located and arrested," Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh said in a statement. "Over the course of nearly two years, KPD and law enforcement from across the state and the country have been working to locate and apprehend Chambers. We appreciate the assistance from all our allied local, state, and federal partners and hope this arrest brings the victim’s family and friends one step closer to finding closure.”

Four other people were charged with crimes related to the 2022 incident in Kearney, but none were as serious as the second-degree murder charge levied against Chambers. The other four have already gone through the court system.