The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a Butte County man with murder in the killing of a Lafayette resident.
David Swank Prince, 35, is accused of killing 34-year-old Christopher Jaber with a hatchet. Prosecutors allege the attack was carried out with malice aforethought. He is scheduled to be arraigned March 25 in Martinez.
Just days before the killing, Prince allegedly made a Facebook post asking someone to kill Jaber, raising further questions about premeditation.
The incident occurred March 21 around 11:30 a.m., when a relative of Jaber called 911 to report a suspicious person armed with a hatchet in the backyard of their property. The caller told dispatch the individual was attempting to break into an accessory dwelling unit where Jaber lived.
Officers with the Lafayette Police Department responded and located Prince a short distance from the unit. He was detained at the scene and later arrested.
Investigators believe the killing was targeted. The motive and the nature of any relationship between Prince and Jaber remain under investigation.
Prince is expected to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Martinez, where he could enter a plea to the murder charge, along with an enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility.
A hatchet? People are losing it.
Clear premeditation dude had to travel over 151 miles to kill Mr. Jaber and a hatchet seems personal so pretty odd. I’m sure we will never ever hear why. Details are always kept close to the vest these days with the BS excuse of “hindering the investigation”. Release what you got let us sift through it and draw our own conclusion!