A Minnesota man has been convicted of murdering a 22-year-old woman who told him she only wanted to be friends, shooting her in the head just hours after she rejected his romantic advances in a series of Snapchat messages.
Jose Luis Lopez Xique, 27, was found guilty Friday, October 9, of first-degree premeditated murder in the June 2025 killing of Kayli Grace Arseth inside her apartment in Richfield, a suburb of Minneapolis.
The verdict means Lopez Xique faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors described the disturbing crime as a case of “rejection killing,” arguing that Lopez Xique could not accept Arseth’s decision not to pursue a romantic relationship.
The pair had met online and developed a friendship, with Lopez Xique occasionally purchasing gifts for Arseth and accompanying her on shopping trips.
But while he wanted something more serious, Arseth repeatedly made it clear that she did not share his romantic feelings.
According to court documents, their Snapchat conversations showed Lopez Xique pushing for actual dates and expressing frustration that Arseth wasn’t putting enough effort into their relationship.
On June 16, 2025, Arseth sent him a message explaining that she enjoyed spending time with him but was not emotionally prepared for a relationship.
She told him she was already overwhelmed by personal challenges and needed time to focus on herself and her family.
Lopez Xique responded that he was confused by her decision, suggesting that she might simply be interested in someone else.
Arseth reiterated that she wasn’t ready to date.
He eventually appeared to accept her wishes, apologizing for being pushy and suggesting that they continue communicating as friends.
But prosecutors said his actions later that afternoon revealed a far more sinister intention.
Cellphone location records placed Lopez Xique at Arseth’s apartment building beginning around 3:38 p.m., less than an hour after their Snapchat exchange.
His phone remained at the location until approximately 4:49 p.m.
During that period, a neighbor reported hearing an argument coming from Arseth’s apartment.
The witness recalled someone shouting, “How could you do this to me?” shortly before the confrontation ended.
Investigators later determined that Arseth had been shot in the head at close range.
The following day, June 17, concerned relatives and friends contacted authorities after Arseth failed to show up for work and stopped responding to messages.
Richfield police entered her apartment in the 7700 block of Penn Avenue South with assistance from building management.
Inside, officers discovered Arseth lying on the living room floor with a fatal gunshot wound.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner subsequently ruled her death a homicide.
Investigators pieced together Lopez Xique’s movements through cellphone data, surveillance footage and evidence recovered during searches.
According to prosecutors, he had purchased several items before the killing, including gloves, masking tape, gauze, wipes and other supplies.
Police later recovered discarded ammunition and other materials at a location connected to his movements after leaving Arseth’s apartment.
The evidence helped prosecutors establish that the killing was planned rather than an impulsive confrontation.
Following a trial in Hennepin County District Court, jurors convicted Lopez Xique on three counts: first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree intentional murder and aggravated harassment involving a dangerous weapon.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty condemned the killing, saying Arseth lost her life because she refused to enter a relationship she did not want.
“This was a horrifying instance of a ‘rejection killing’ where Mr. Lopez Xique refused to accept that Kayli did not want a relationship,” Moriarty said following the verdict.
Beyond the disturbing circumstances of her death, Arseth’s family wants her remembered for the person she was.
The young woman loved music, art, motorcycles and spending time with loved ones. She was restoring her own motorcycle and worked as a behavioral technician helping children with special needs.
Her obituary described her as bright, funny, outspoken and deeply caring.
Friends and relatives said she had a passion for helping others and was building a promising future when her life was taken.
Moriarty emphasized that Arseth deserved the opportunity to continue pursuing her dreams and spending time with the people who loved her.
Lopez Xique is scheduled to be sentenced October 15 at 11 a.m.
Under Minnesota law, first-degree premeditated murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, meaning the 27-year-old is expected to spend the remainder of his life in prison.
For Arseth’s grieving family, the conviction brings a measure of accountability after more than a year of waiting for justice.
