Left inset: Jose Lopez Xique (Hennepin County). Right inset Kayli Arseth (Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels, Inc). Background: The 7700 block of Penn Avenue South in Richfield, Minn., where Jose Lopez Xique allegedly killed Kayli Arseth (Google Maps).
A Minnesota man whose romantic overtures were rejected by a 22-year-old woman on Snapchat allegedly killed her a day later, shooting a bullet through her right eye “at close range” inside her own home during an argument as police say he shouted “How could you do this to me?”
Jose Luis Lopez Xique, 27, was charged Monday in Hennepin County with second-degree murder for the June 27 shooting death of Kayli Arseth. His criminal complaint details how he allegedly executed Arseth — a “very bright, sassy, funny, and caring” woman from Richfield who “loved working with children,” according to her obituary — at her residence that Friday night after being rejected the day before.
“[Lopez Xique] would buy things for Victim on shopping trips, but the relationship was not romantic or sexual,” the complaint alleges, citing interviews with friends.
“Victim”s computer was located in her apartment and was logged in to her Snapchat account. Investigators noticed that victim and [Lopez Xique] had a ‘best friend badge’ with a ‘streak’ that had just ended,” the document says. “A review of messages in the days leading up to victim’s death revealed that defendant [Lopez Xique] was asking victim for a romantic relationship with ‘actual dates.’ Victim responded to defendant that she was only interested in a friendship and did not feel a romantic attraction to defendant.”
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According to prosecutors, Lopez Xique told Arseth that he wanted to “see more effort from her in their relationship.” Arseth asked him if he was free on June 16 to help her with her motorcycle. Lopez Xique allegedly offered to pick her up that night after work and Arseth stated that she would let him know about his “suggested plan,” per the complaint.
On June 16 at 2:55 p.m., Arseth contacted Lopez Xique on Snapchat and told him, “I did enjoy hanging out with you, but I don’t have enough mental capacity for any type of relationship right now. I’m trying to figure out myself as well as manage my relationship with my parents and I’m overwhelmed and stressed already.”
Lopez Xique allegedly responded that he was “confused” — saying, “I just want to be there for you. And you say you don’t want any other relationship, but I feel like you’re just looking for something different,” according to prosecutors.
“Victim responded that she just wasn’t ready for a relationship,” the complaint says.
Lopez Xique allegedly responded, “Sorry if I’ve been pushy to hangout but I can tone it back we can just text and keep being that person we can talk to like we were.”
Location analysis of Lopez Xique’s phone showed that he was allegedly at Arseth’s apartment building beginning at 3:38 p.m. on June 16. He sent his very last message to her from that location, with his phone remaining at the apartment until 4:49 p.m., according to the complaint.
Authorities were asked to conduct a welfare check on Arseth after she couldn’t be contacted, with officers obtaining a key from apartment management and entering her home.
“They immediately encountered a gruesome scene,” the complaint says. “Victim was face down on her living room floor in a pool of blood with an apparent gunshot wound to her head.”
Arseth’s neighbor told police she had heard arguing at the apartment, specifically recalling a male who screamed, “How could you do this to me,” before eventually leaving at around 4:47 p.m. after the argument stopped. Prosecutors say Lopez Xique’s phone data shows he was at the residence and went to a hardware store after.
“This was a terrible instance of extreme, targeted violence that took Kayli from her loved ones,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement Monday. “My thoughts are with her family during this extraordinarily difficult period. Our office will prosecute Mr. Lopez Xique to protect our community and hold him accountable for his actions.”
