27-year-old man returned to the home of a 26-year-old woman he attacked days before only to shoot her and 2 other witnesses to death just because he didn’t want any unresolved issues; arrested
California – In a shocking case that has stirred fear and grief in California, a 27‑year‑old man, identified as J. Vicencio, has been arrested after killing a 26-year-old woman, identified as T. Taylor, whom he had dated and assaulted days before, and two other witnesses, including Taylor’s 24-year-old roommate, identified as J. Lurie and a 26-year-old man, identified as M. Ryan, just because he didn’t want any unresolved issues.
Vicencio is accused of three counts of murder, along with related charges for domestic violence and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say he carried out the shootings to silence possible testimony. According to court documents, his motive was that he “might be in trouble” because someone was going to talk about what he had done days before—specifically, that he had strangled and beaten Taylor, and she had reported it to police.
The murders occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. Just before 12:30 a.m., police responded to multiple 911 calls about gunshots and a woman screaming for help. When officers arrived, they found Taylor outside the home suffering from gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a hospital but died shortly after. Inside the home, they discovered Lurie and Ryan suffering from severe gunshot wounds. Lurie was pronounced dead at the scene, while Ryan was declared dead at the hospital.
Days before the shooting, Taylor had contacted police to report Vicencio for domestic violence. Taylor told authorities that he had punched her in the chest and strangled her. The department observed marks on her throat consistent with strangulation. Lurie also supported those claims, saying she witnessed the abuse. Despite that report, Vicencio was not arrested at that time. Surveillance footage plays a big role in what investigators believe happened. Video shows a man matching Vicencio’s description entering and leaving the home around the time of the shootings. It also captured him carrying a satchel, which he is said to have discarded in a storm drain. That same satchel was later recovered, along with the alleged murder weapon inside.
One key witness said Vicencio told them, prior to the killings, that he didn’t want any unresolved issues and could not have people talking about him. A second witness said they confronted him after the murders and Vicencio claimed he had “an issue with a male at the apartment but he handled it.” Vicencio was arrested the next day, Wednesday, after police matched surveillance footage, collected witness statements, and tracked him down. He was booked in the county jail, where he is being held without bond.
Vicencio is scheduled to appear in court on October 24 for his next hearing. Prosecutors say they will seek to hold him fully accountable given the gravity of the crime—killing a woman, her roommate, and one other person in cold blood to prevent them from testifying. This case exposes how prior domestic violence can escalate into tragic killings when early warnings aren’t acted upon. Vicencio’s own words—that he didn’t want any unresolved issues and couldn’t have people talking about him—echo as a chilling motive. While the case moves forward, there are no guarantees that pain or loss can be undone. The community awaits a full trial, but the question remains: could more have been done to prevent three deaths?
