Chambers signals intent to go to trial in Kearney murder case

KEARNEY, Neb. — The Nebraska man accused of killing someone in a Kearney drug deal gone wrong appears prepared to go to trial.

27-year-old Romeo Chambers is charged with second-degree murder and six other felonies in relation to the incident that led to the shooting death of Jared Shinpaugh in January 2022. He has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Chambers appeared in Buffalo County District Court for a final plea hearing on Thursday. Instead of entering into a plea agreement, Chambers’ attorney spent this week filing six motions related to what may or may not be present at trial. The court scheduled a one-hour hearing on the motions for January 9 at 1:30.

The motions include allowing Chambers to wear civilian clothing, requiring the state to disclose their intention to use certain evidence, sequestering witnesses and excluding memorials to the victim. 

Shinpaugh died following the shooting on Jan. 16, 2022. Kearney Police obtained an arrest warrant for Chambers two months later on March 22. He was on the run until being arrested in Arizona in January of this year. Since being in custody, the county attorney has charged Chambers with two counts of assaulting a fellow inmate. Those cases will be continued as the murder case plays out.