14-year-old boy killed in Escondido street brawl identified

A boy fatally stabbed in a street brawl in Escondido earlier this month was a 14-year-old who was just days away from graduating from middle school at the time of his murder.

In fundraising appeals, family members identified the boy as Kayden Romo Daniels and also as Kayden Alan Romo. The teenager was an eighth-grader at Bear Valley Middle School when he was killed on June 3.

Police said the boy was stabbed in a clash between two groups on a residential street and collapsed as he ran away from the fight on Wanek Road, off Valley Parkway. He died in hospital.

Several days after the fatal confrontation, which police said was linked to gang violence, officers arrested two teenagers. Two pistols, a rifle and a knife were seized during a search of two homes in Escondido, police said.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and it is alleged he committed the killing to benefit a gang. His next hearing is July 10, according to a spokesman for the district attorney’s office. A 17-year-old is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and gang charges, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a minor. He is due back in court on June 24.

Rick Brule, the victim’s grandfather, told Fox 5 that Kayden was hanging out with friends around the corner from the family’s home when they encountered another group of teenagers.

“Some people targeted some friends he knew from school and got into a fight, and someone attacked him and stabbed him,” Brule told the station. “He didn’t even know these guys.”

Cheri Brule, Kayden’s grandmother, is organizing one of the GoFundMe appeals, which includes the words “Kayden is gone too soon” and “Forever 14.” Donations will go to his mother, Dani Mackett, and his family, Brule said.

“With these gestures of compassion and kindness, we extend our warm embrace to Kayden’s mother and family and remind them that they are not alone in their grief and that their community stands by them with unwavering support and love,” she wrote.

A second GoFundMe campaign is being organized by Samone Romo on behalf of Kayden’s father, Troy Romo. “Kayden was about to graduate from eighth grade when his life suddenly and senselessly ended… Please pray for Troy and his daughter Daisy and all other family and friends,” Samone Romo wrote.