NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office announced that Francisco Romero was sentenced on May 21, 2026, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence after an Orleans Parish jury found him guilty of Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Second Degree Battery for a deadly 2020 stabbing that claimed the life of Daniel Dowd and seriously injured another victim.
The guilty verdict was returned on January 15, 2026. Judge Angel Harris imposed Romero’s sentence in Section L of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.
On November 19, 2020, New Orleans Police Department officers responded to a reported aggravated battery by cutting at a residence in the 1800 block of Chippewa Street. Upon arrival, officers located Daniel Dowd suffering from multiple stab wounds inside the home. Despite lifesaving efforts by emergency responders, Dowd died from his injuries.
The investigation, led by NOPD Homicide Detective Christopher Puccio, revealed evidence of a violent struggle inside the residence, including an overturned table and a blood trail leading from the home. Detectives recovered a folding knife believed to have been used during the attack.
Evidence presented during trial established that Romero repeatedly stabbed Dowd, inflicting numerous fatal wounds. A second victim also sustained a serious laceration during the incident, resulting in Romero’s conviction for Aggravated Second Degree Battery.
“Every homicide leaves behind a family forced to navigate a lifetime of loss,” said District Attorney Jason Williams. “While no verdict or sentence can bring Daniel Dowd back, this outcome ensures accountability for a violent act that forever changed the lives of those who loved him. I am grateful to the prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and law enforcement officers who remained committed to seeing this case through.”
The case was prosecuted by Chief of Appeals Brad Scott and Assistant District Attorney Jason King. The trial team also included Trial Assistant Erin K. Fuenning, Investigator Elizabeth Garcia, and Victim Witness Advocate Angele Crawford.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office also recognizes the work of NOPD Homicide Detective Christopher Puccio and the responding officers, forensic personnel, and emergency responders whose efforts helped secure justice in this case.
