Known to her loved ones as “Lulu,” Shaquilah Kaprise Howard was a devoted mother and a vibrant soul who loved to bring people together. Born on January 2, 1996, in Bellflower, California, the 30-year-old woman was remembered for her beautiful smile and her gift for hospitality. Shaquilah had a passion for cooking, dancing, and entertaining, and she took great pride in organizing family gatherings and celebrating the accomplishments of those she loved.
The center of her world was her daughter, Ra'myah, who was born in 2017. Shaquilah was dedicated to building the best possible life for her child. Her warmth and love left a lasting impact on her family and friends, including the children of her friends who knew her as "Auntie."
The life Shaquilah had built was tragically cut short on the morning of Monday, October 5, 2026. At around 7:30 a.m., deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to her apartment in the 28000 block of Colorado Avenue in Temecula after a 911 call reported "unknown trouble." Inside, they found Shaquilah mortally wounded. Paramedics who arrived at the scene pronounced her dead from at least one gunshot wound. The shooting was believed to have stemmed from a domestic dispute.
The investigation was quickly taken over by the Riverside County Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit. Detectives identified 28-year-old Rashad Kysim Populus of Los Angeles as the suspect. Authorities revealed the grim detail that Populus had been released from prison on parole just 11 days earlier, on September 24, after a conviction for assault with a firearm. The relationship between Populus and Howard was not officially detailed, but some reports indicated he was believed to be the father of her child.
With assistance from the Riverside County District Attorney's Gang Impact Team and the Sheriff's K-9 Unit, investigators tracked Populus to a residence on Astoria Place in Oxnard, several hours away from the crime scene. He was taken into custody without incident later that same afternoon and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of murder and for violating his parole.
In the days that followed, Shaquilah's mother, Clylencia, spoke about her heartbreak and her determination to stay strong for her granddaughter. "That was my only child," she said outside the courthouse. "I felt like if I had left his ass where he was at, my baby might be here today." She described her granddaughter's awareness of the tragedy, saying the child knew her mother was gone and was receiving counseling.
On October 16, 2026, Rashad Populus pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and parole violations, along with sentence-enhancing allegations of using a gun and causing great bodily injury. A judge set his bail at $3 million.
A viewing and a celebration of life for Shaquilah were held on October 19 and 20, 2026, where family and friends gathered to cherish her memory. Her obituary stated, "To know Lulu was to love her. Her love, laughter, and legacy will live on through everyone whose life she touched."
As of the latest available reports from October 2026, the case against Rashad Populus was proceeding through the legal system. A felony settlement conference was scheduled for December 1, 2026, at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Authorities have asked anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Manjarrez at (951) 955–2777.
