On the night of December 3, 2025, law enforcement officers in Chico, California, were dispatched to a residence on the 1200 block of Warner Street following reports of a shooting. Upon entering the home around 8:30 p.m., police discovered the bodies of two individuals in what was immediately characterized as a domestic violence tragedy. The victim was identified as Alexandra Wynter, a 28-year-old female and member of the Black Student Union, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
The scene was secured as investigators began to piece together the events that led to the loss of life.
Detectives identified 33-year-old Anthony Lopez, Wynter’s boyfriend who lived with her at the address, as the sole suspect in the killing. The investigation concluded that Lopez shot Wynter before turning the weapon on himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Because the perpetrator died by suicide, no arrests were made and no trial will occur, but the Butte County District Attorney’s Office formally closed the case as a murder-suicide, confirming Lopez’s responsibility for the violence.
Alexandra Wynter was a dedicated senior at California State University, Chico, where she was majoring in biological sciences and was on track to graduate in the spring of 2026. Beyond her academic pursuits, she was a vibrant figure in the local community, working at Enloe Health and serving as the community connections director for the Community Action Volunteers in Education. Her commitment to service extended to mutual aid projects where she supported the unhoused population. Following her death, the university lowered its flag to half-staff, and students and faculty gathered to hold vigils in her honor.
