A California resident is facing a lengthy prison term after fatally shooting his former partner in front of their two young children, aged 3 and 4.

Romier Taguiam Narag, 30, was sentenced to 64 years to life behind bars last week for the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend Frances Lucero, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney”s Office. A jury last month found Narag guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment.

“The defendant has left his own children without a parent, causing a lifelong impact,” remarked the judge during the sentencing hearing.

The tragic incident occurred in March 2023, when Narag and Lucero engaged in a heated dispute outside her residence in Daly City, near San Francisco. During the altercation, Narag drew a firearm and shot Lucero multiple times, including two shots to the back, resulting in her death. Authorities apprehended Narag at the scene.

During the sentencing, Narag expressed remorse for his actions, admitting his disdain for the person he had become, yet he partially blamed Lucero for the events that unfolded.

“She provoked me, and it just happened,” he claimed, according to a courtroom report from local CW affiliate KRON.

Lucero’s mother, Liezel Chan Lucero, is now responsible for raising the children, who, she mentioned, are still too young to grasp the tragedy that occurred.

“There are some questions [from the children] that are like ‘Is there a way to get ahold of my mom?’” Liezel Lucero told local NBC affiliate KNTV last year. “Those kinds of things are really breaking my heart every day. Every day.”

A GoFundMe account described Frances Lucero as a “beautiful mother, daughter, sister, and friend who touched countless lives of those around her.”

“Frances dedicated her life to her children and always spread the love she had to share,” the GoFundMe said. “She was the most genuine, thoughtful, loyal and ambitious woman we’ve all been blessed to know. Frances was that friend that would help you celebrate good times and provide nothing but support during the bad times.”