Woman met horrific death ‘after telling man who had crush on her that she just wanted to be friends’

Young Woman Killed After Rejecting Romantic Advances from US Army Reservist

A 22-year-old Minnesota woman, Kayli Grace Arseth, was brutally murdered after making it clear she was only interested in friendship with a man who had developed romantic feelings for her.

According to prosecutors, 27-year-old Jose Luis Lopez Xique — a US Army Reservist — fatally shot Kayli in her Richfield apartment on June 16. The two had met online, and while Lopez Xique pursued a romantic relationship, messages revealed that Kayli had repeatedly emphasized she only wanted to be friends.

Court documents show Lopez Xique broke into her home and lay in wait. A neighbor heard Kayli scream, “How could you do this to me?” before a fatal gunshot ended her life. Police found a disturbing collection of discarded items at the scene, including gloves, gauze, ammunition, and tape.

Kayli, who worked with children with autism, was described by loved ones as kind, vibrant, and full of promise. She had dreams of studying developmental psychology at the University of Minnesota.

“This was a horrific act of targeted violence,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who confirmed a charge of second-degree intentional murder against Lopez Xique.

Kayli’s family and community now mourn the loss of a bright young woman whose life was senselessly cut short — a reminder of the dangers many women face when simply saying “no.”