Suspect used hatchet to kill 34-year-old Christopher Jaber
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a Butte County man with the murder of a Lafayette resident.
35-year-old David Swank Prince is scheduled to be arraigned in court on March 25th for the murder of 34-year-old Christopher Jaber. Prince unlawfully and with malice aforethought took the life of Jaber with the use of a hatchet.
On March 21, 2026, around 11:30 am, a relative of Christopher Jaber called 911 to report a suspicious individual with a hatchet in the backyard area of their property. The caller told dispatch that the individual was breaking into an Accessory Dwelling Unit where Jaber resided. When officers from the Lafayette Police Department arrived at the scene, they located Prince a short distance from the ADU, where he was detained and subsequently arrested. (See related article)
The murder appears to be a targeted act. The investigation into the motive for the murder and whether Prince and Jaber were acquainted is ongoing.
Prince is set to be in court at 1:30 pm in Martinez on Wednesday, where he could enter a plea to the murder charge and enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon. He is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Case No. 01-26-01746 | The People of the State of California v. David Swank Prince
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