Minnesota Woman K!lled by Army Reservist After Rejecting Romantic Advances

A 22-year-old Minnesota woman was tragically shot and k!lled after telling a man she met online that she only wanted to be friends, prosecutors say.

Authorities allege that Jose Luis Lopez Xique, 27, ambushed and murdered Kayli Grace Arseth at her Richfield apartment on June 16, after she rejected his romantic pursuit. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Lopez Xique with one count of second-degree intentional murd£r on Monday, July 7.

According to prosecutors, messages between the pair revealed that Lopez Xique had repeatedly pushed for a relationship, despite Arseth’s clear statements that she wasn’t interested. “She made it known she only wanted friendship,” the office said in a statement.

Investigators found a disturbing collection of items at the crime scene, including ammunition, used medical supplies, disposable gloves, shoes, wipes, and tape—suggesting premeditation.

Lopez Xique, a U.S. citizen and Army reservist, has lived most of his life in nearby Shakopee, according to his defense attorney.

Court documents offer a chilling account of Arseth’s final hours. After leaving her job at Fraser School—where she worked as a behavioral technician for children with autism—she returned home around 4:20 p.m. Unbeknownst to her, Lopez Xique had allegedly broken in and was waiting inside.

A neighbor reported hearing a heated argument, including Arseth shouting, “How could you do this to me?” Police later discovered her body with a gunshot wound to the head amid a gruesome scene inside the apartment.

Investigators said the two met online, and while Lopez Xique often bought Arseth gifts and accompanied her on errands, there was no romantic or physical relationship between them.

Snapchat messages reviewed by police showed Arseth reaching out to Lopez Xique for help with her motorcycle earlier that day. Later, she sent a message saying, “I don’t have enough mental capacity for any type of relationship right now.” He responded, “Have fun,” hours before the attack.

Arseth, a graduate of Wayzata High School, had been a swimmer and track athlete. Her family shared that she planned to study developmental psychology at the University of Minnesota.

“Kayli made a positive difference in many people's lives and will be deeply missed,” her obituary read. “She always told people, ‘Well, you're stuck with me.’ The irony is that she’s now stuck in our hearts forever.”

Calling the case “a terrible instance of extreme, targeted violence,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty vowed to pursue justice: “Our office will prosecute Mr. Lopez Xique to protect our community and hold him accountable.”