Buford Highway shooting leaves family disputing affair claim

Daniel Roman-Cortez faces a murder charge after police said he shot Pablo Gutierrez Gallegos outside a restaurant on Buford Highway in Doraville.

Investigators said Roman-Cortez claimed he killed Gallegos because the employee was having an extramarital affair with his wife. The victim's family strongly disagrees with that explanation. Brenda Balderes and Dylan Lopez, Gallegos' stepchildren, said the suspect's wife was merely a coworker. They stated she had no romantic relationship with their stepfather.

The shooting left Gallegos' wife and their 4-year-old daughter without a father and husband. Balderes said the couple's wife was working alongside Gallegos at the time of the incident. She noted that Gallegos typically only spoke to her about work schedules. The family described Gallegos as a quiet person who worked seven days a week. Lopez said their stepfather rarely got into arguments or started drama.

The family is currently mourning the sudden loss. Balderes said their mother is trying to hold on as the family prays for Gallegos for the next seven days. Lopez said it hurts to know their 4-year-old sister now wakes up without seeing her dad. Balderes said the killing took away a provider and altered their family's lives instantly. She noted that the responsibility of supporting their mother now falls on them at a young age.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover expenses. Police have not yet released specific details about how the confrontation unfolded. Investigators have also not disclosed what physical evidence was recovered at the scene. Authorities have not said whether other people witnessed the gunfire.

Roman-Cortez was taken into custody following the fatal shooting. The charge relates to the death of Gallegos at the Buford Highway eatery where he worked. The case is currently under investigation by local police.