Lafayette is still reeling from a homicide that officials say was the city’s first in more than 20 years.
As of now, authorities have charged a suspect, say they believe the killing was targeted, and continue to investigate the motive and the relationship between the two men.
Here’s where things stand with the case at the moment.
What happened
The case began around 11:30 a.m. on March 21, when a relative of 34-year-old Christopher Jaber called 911 to report a suspicious person with a hatchet in the backyard area of a Westminster Place property in Lafayette.
According to prosecutors, the caller said the person was breaking into the accessory dwelling unit where Jaber lived. When Lafayette police arrived, they found Jaber dead and detained a suspect a short distance away.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 35-year-old David Swank Prince of Chico.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office announced on March 24 that Prince had been charged with murder in Jaber’s death. Prosecutors say he also faces an enhancement tied to the alleged use of a deadly weapon — a hatchet.
The DA’s office said Prince was in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility when charges were announced.
Where the court case stands
The criminal case against David Swank Prince is now moving through Contra Costa County Superior Court under case number 01-26-01746. The felony case was filed March 24 in the Martinez-Wakefield Taylor Courthouse and is currently listed as in-custody.
Prince is charged with one count of murder under Penal Code 187(a), along with a weapon enhancement under Penal Code 12022(b)(1) alleging use of a deadly or dangerous weapon. The charging date for both is listed as March 21, the day of the alleged killing.
So far, the case has moved slowly through its early procedural stages rather than through any major public courtroom showdown. A complaint was filed March 24, followed by a bail determination and an in-custody calendar request that same day.
An arraignment was first scheduled for March 25 before Judge David E. Goldstein, but the hearing result is listed as “not held.”
A second arraignment was then scheduled for April 2 before Judge Brian F. Haynes. That hearing is also listed in the docket as “not held,” though Prince and attorney Timothy Ahearn were both noted as present. The docket also shows pretrial screening activity tied to that date.
The next key scheduled court date appears to be April 16 at 1:35 p.m., when another arraignment on complaint was set before Judge Goldstein, along with pretrial screening the same day. No word yet on what happened during that court appearance, but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Was this random?
Officials have repeatedly said they do not believe so.
The DA’s office said the killing “appears to be a targeted act,” while Lafayette Police Chief Ben Alldritt Williams, in a city statement, said there was “no threat to the public” and that police believe it was “not a random attack.”
That has been one of the biggest points of reassurance from city officials as the case has shaken a community where homicides are exceptionally rare. Lafayette City Manager Niroop Srivatsa said it was the city’s first homicide in over 20 years.
What investigators still have not said
Even with a suspect charged, major questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have said the investigation into the motive is ongoing. They have also said they were still working to determine whether Prince and Jaber knew each other.
We’ll continue to follow the case closely. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
