David Prince was arrested on a murder charge after 34-year-old Christopher Jaber was found dead in Lafayette, California, a community with an exceptionally low homicide rate. Authorities responded around 11:36 a.m. on Saturday to reports of a suspicious person at a residence on Westminster Place, where they discovered Jaber deceased.
Investigation Centers on Online Posts Potentially Linked to Suspect
Law enforcement sources informed KTVU that Jaber was killed with a hatchet. David Prince, 35, of Chico, was detained near the scene and subsequently booked into the Martinez Detention Facility with a $1 million bail for murder. Investigators are examining a series of cryptic Facebook posts associated with an account linked to Prince, which referenced Jaber explicitly weeks before the fatal attack. One post from February included Jaber’s Lafayette address and vague mentions of “the chaos of the supernatural.” Approximately a week before the incident, another message from the same account stated, “Can someone please kill this man.” Authorities have not confirmed whether Prince authored these posts or had prior contact with the victim.
Community Reaction and Legal Implications
The homicide has unsettled Lafayette, a part of the affluent Lamorinda area known for its safety and high property values, where no homicides were recorded from 2013 through 2025. Neighbors expressed concern that the messages suggest the attack may have been premeditated. Legal analysts note that if the posts are proven to be Prince’s, prosecutors could use them to argue premeditation, while defense attorneys might cite them as evidence of impaired mental capacity. Jaber had been under a conservatorship, according to court records. His family has not issued a statement.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate and urges anyone with information to come forward.
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