THE APD VIOLENT CRIMES UNIT IS STILL INVESTIGATING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A ROBBERY IN WHICH THE VICTIM WAS SEVERELY BEATEN. A CALLER TOLD POLICE THAT HE WENT TO FERNY'S ELECTRONICS ON YUCCA RD MONDAY NIGHT TO CHECK ON HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, 57 YEAR-OLD FERNANDO ROMERO, WHO OWNS THE BUSINESS. THE CALLER SAID HE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE ROMERO HADN'T COME HOME AFTER WORK.

OFFICER TASIA MARTINEZ SAYS THE MAN TOLD POLICE HE FOUND HIS FATHER-IN-LAW BADLY BEATEN. MARTINEZ SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IF ROMERO'S FAMILY HADN'T CHECKED ON HIM, POLICE MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE.

POLICE HAVE RECOVERED A TRUCK THAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE STORE. MARTINEZ SAYS IT'S HOPED THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET EVIDENCE FROM THE VEHICLE TO HELP IDENTIFY A SUSPECT.

ROMERO IS BEING TREATED AT U-N-M-H.