Shakopee man charged with murder of Richfield woman

A Shakopee man has been taken into custody and charged in the shooting murder of 22-year-old Kayli Arseth in Richfield last month, in what charges allege was a failed romantic pursuit.

Jose Luis Lopez Xique, 27, was taken into custody on Thursday and was charged in Hennepin County District Court on Monday with one count of second-degree murder with intent but not premeditated.

Authorities found Arseth dead in her apartment on the 7700 block of Penn Avenue South on June 17 in what charges describe as a “gruesome scene,” while performing a welfare check after family reported she didn’t show up for work. Arseth’s keys were found in the apartment, but her apartment key was missing from the key ring.

Investigators learned that Arseth had left work the day prior at 4:26 p.m. and traveled about two miles to her home. Arseth had plans to be picked up by a friend at 5 p.m., who repeatedly called, texted, and knocked on Arseth’s apartment door over a 20-minute period with no response. The friend sent a message to Arseth’s father alerting him of the odd occurrence.

A witness neighbor also told police that they heard yelling and arguing coming from the apartment just after 4:30 p.m. on June 16, during which they heard Arseth say, “How could you do this to me?” The neighbor said they could tell that the other voice in the argument was male. The neighbor then heard someone leave the apartment about 4:47 p.m. after the argument stopped.

Investigators also learned that Arseth had recently met a man online who went by “Lui.” Arseth and Lui were spending time together and Lui was buying things for Arseth during shopping trips, but the relationship was not romantic or sexual, according to the criminal complaint.

Lui was later identified as Lopez Xique, and investigators found evidence of conversations on Arseth’s Snapchat account between the two that revealed Lopez Xique was seeking a romantic relationship with Arseth and wanted to go on “actual dates.” Arseth responded in the app to Lopez Xique that she was only interested in friendship and did not feel romantically attracted to him. However, the two continued conversations and arranged meet up plans in the app, including the date Arseth died, the complaint detailed.

Location analysis of Lopez Xique’s phone placed him at Arseth’s apartment building beginning at 3:38 p.m. on June 16 and indicated that he sent at least the last message to her from that location. His phone remained at the location until 4:49 p.m.

Police were also able to place Lopez Xique at a hardware store after leaving Arseth’s apartment. Lopez Xique’s phone was also pinged to a location in West Bloomington where investigators found two bags of discarded items that included 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a blue utility shirt, sunglasses, an empty box of gauze, blue disposable gloves, a pair of shoes, and a hat. In nearby trash bins, officers recovered a plastic bag with wipes, masking tape, rubber gloves, and packaging for the sunglasses, gauze, and gloves.

Lopez Xique was arrested in his vehicle as he was leaving his Shakopee residence last week and did not inquire about why he was arrested. He reportedly told officers to hurry it up, and seemed unsurprised, the criminal complaint said.

A search of Lopez Xique following arrest revealed scratches on his chest and puncture wounds on his forearm. A Glock 9mm was also recovered from Lopez Xique’s residence, and forensic testing is in process on the firearm.

Lopez Xique requested an attorney before speaking to police.

Lopez Xique is being held on a bail amount of $2.5 million ahead of his first court appearance scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. No attorney is yet listed for Lopez Xique.

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