Affluent enclave rocked by brutal slaying — suspect’s Facebook posts appeared to target victim: report

A deadly stabbing successful a historically quiescent and affluent Northern California assemblage is raising caller concerns astir targeted unit aft disturbing online posts surfaced appearing to notation the unfortunate weeks earlier helium was killed.

Officers were dispatched astatine astir 11:36 a.m. Saturday to a location connected Westminster Place successful Lafayette for reports of a "suspicious subject," according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. When officers entered the residence, they recovered 34-year-old Christopher Jaber dead.

Law enforcement sources told KTVU the sidesplitting progressive a hatchet.

A antheral aboriginal identified arsenic 35-year-old David Prince of Chico was detained adjacent soon aft the find and yet arrested successful transportation with the killing. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility connected a execution complaint and is being held connected $1 cardinal bail.

REPEAT OFFENDER WITH 20+ PRIOR CHARGES ALLEGEDLY KILLS 23-YEAR-OLD IN HIT-AND-RUN, THEN WALKS AWAY

This booking photograph provided by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office shows David Prince pursuing a 2019 arrest; Prince has since been charged successful transportation with a fatal stabbing successful Lafayette, California, authorities said. (KTVU)

As investigators enactment to find a motive, attraction has turned to a bid of cryptic Facebook posts linked to an relationship bearing the suspect’s name.

According to KTVU, 1 station from February referenced Jaber by sanction and included his Lafayette code alongside a connection invoking "the chaos of the supernatural." About a week earlier the killing, the aforesaid relationship escalated the language, writing: "Can idiosyncratic delight termination this man."

Authorities person not confirmed whether Prince authored the posts oregon whether helium knew the victim.

EX-GIRLFRIEND, 3 OTHERS NABBED IN KILLING TIED TO ALLEGED MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT IN ‘UNUSUAL’ CASE: POLICE

Police portion blocks disconnected a residential thoroughfare successful Lafayette arsenic investigators canvass the country pursuing a deadly stabbing successful a assemblage wherever homicides are exceedingly rare. (KTVU)

Still, neighbors told KTVU the messages, present circulating wrong the community, person fueled fears that the onslaught whitethorn person been deliberate.

"It seems similar helium was looking for him," neighbour Christina Coleridge told the station, adding that she witnessed the fishy being taken into custody. She described him arsenic handcuffed with integrative bags placed implicit his hands.

GOT A TIP?

Legal experts accidental the posts, if tied to Prince, could play a cardinal relation successful court. KTVU ineligible expert Michael Cardoza said prosecutors could usage them to reason premeditation, portion defence attorneys whitethorn constituent to them arsenic grounds of diminished intelligence capacity.

FOLLOW US ON X

Social media posts attributed to the fishy referenced the unfortunate by sanction and code weeks earlier the killing, raising questions astir whether the onslaught was premeditated, according to KTVU. (KTVU)

Jaber had antecedently been placed nether a conservatorship, according to tribunal records cited by KTVU. His household has declined to comment.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

Detectives and transgression laboratory unit with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office process grounds astatine the Lafayette location wherever a 34-year-old antheral was recovered dead, arsenic the homicide probe continued. (KTVU)

The sidesplitting has rattled Lafayette, portion of the Lamorinda area, including Moraga and Orinda, a portion known for its affluent communities. Home prices successful the metropolis typically scope from astir $1.8 cardinal to $2 million, according to information from Zillow.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Homicides successful Lafayette are exceedingly rare. Police records amusement nary reported killings from 2013 done 2024, and nary successful 2025, underscoring the rarity of specified unit successful a assemblage often ranked among the safest successful the region.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The probe remains ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with accusation to interaction the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].