On March 16, 2024, at approximately 1:56 a.m., Yuba City Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire near the Northgate Terrace Apartments at 1290 Northgate Drive in Yuba City, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 34-year-old Esther Diaz deceased inside an apartment, alongside 21-year-old Ryan Newsome, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Newsome was transported to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Nearby, officers found 36-year-old Joel Rohm dead inside a vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators determined that Rohm and Diaz had previously been in a dating relationship, leading authorities to classify the incident as a murder-suicide stemming from domestic violence. The exact nature of the events remains under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest that Rohm fatally shot Diaz and injured Newsome before taking his own life.
The Yuba City Police Department emphasized that this was not a random act of violence and that there were no ongoing threats to the public. Detectives from the department, along with the Department of Justice, continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case to provide a clearer understanding of the tragic events that transpired.
