A jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of a Santa Rosa man accused of assault after a violent confrontation in 2023 at the Healdsburg Hotel that left another man dead.

Romario Cisneros faced felony assault with a deadly weapon in the death of Abel Garza, who had attacked hotel staff before Cisneros fatally stabbed him.

Eleven jurors favored a not guilty verdict, and one opposition led to a deadlocked jury. The jury, which received the case from Judge Laura Passaglia on Friday afternoon, was dismissed on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear whether the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will refile charges against Cisneros.

No one disputes that Cisneros killed Garza outside the Healdsburg Hotel; The arguments in the case focused instead on whether his actions were justified or not.

He originally faced an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter before prosecutors dismissed it shortly before testimony began in Cisneros’s trial on October 16.

Sonoma County Deputy Prosecutor Robert Waner emphasized that there was little doubt that Garza was “causing problems,” but maintained that it was unnecessary for Cisneros to respond the way he did.

Autopsy results found that Garza was under the influence of alcohol, fentanyl and methamphetamine when he showed up at the hotel twice and each time threatened staff.

During the first confrontation, officials said, Garza head-butted an employee and tried to hit him and Cisneros with a skateboard. Then he left the hotel.

Healdsburg police were notified but said they were unable to find Garza.

When he returned, he was holding a club and a hammer and yelled at hotel staff to call the police, authorities said.

Garza hit a staff member with the stick before employees took it away from him. They then followed him down an alley across the street from the hotel and next to The Wurst restaurant.

Prosecutors argued that several witnesses were present but kept their distance or used weapons to protect themselves from Garza. A maintenance manager brandished a folding knife but put it away before the two began fighting, authorities said.

That’s when Cisneros attacked with the stick, piercing Garza’s lungs and aorta.

Kimi Vehilac, a pathologist who performed Garza’s autopsy, testified Oct. 22 that the pole caused significant injuries and damage to the aorta “caused massive internal bleeding.”

He verified that methamphetamine, fentanyl and alcohol were found in Garza’s system, but none of them contributed to his death.

The prosecution concluded its argument on October 23, and Cisneros took the witness stand that day to defend himself.

He said his goal that day was to protect his colleagues from Garza, whom he feared. Cisneros said he did not remember stabbing him and only learned what happened when police showed him surveillance footage.

Police arrested Cisneros on August 8 after an investigation. He was booked into jail, but was later released after posting $30,000 bail.

He has been free since then and regularly attends court hearings.

Garza’s family filed a civil lawsuit alleging the hotel’s negligence in his death. The next hearing in that case is scheduled for February 27.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

You can contact staff writer Colin Atagi at [email protected]. On Twitter @colin_atagi