In the early hours of April 30, 2023, officers responding to a domestic violence call in the 1600 block of West Pine Avenue in Lompoc found 59-year-old Cassandra Butler deceased from gunshot wounds and her 29-year-old nephew, Tyree McPherson, critically injured. McPherson was taken to a local hospital and died on May 2, 2023. The suspect, identified as 60-year-old Zavian Armone Chappell, Butler’s husband, was arrested at the scene and initially booked on murder and attempted murder; after McPherson’s death the charges were updated to two counts of murder. Chappell pleaded not guilty and was held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail.

Cassandra Butler, also known as Cassandra CeCe Sims, was born May 27, 1963, in Sedalia, Missouri. She served in the United States Army, later worked as a dietician in several places including Lompoc, and was an active member of the Usher Board at Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church. A joint funeral service was held May 17, 2023, and a GoFundMe was set up to help with funeral expenses for Cassandra and Tyree, described there as devoted family members.

The Lompoc Police Department has classified the incident as a double homicide and continues to investigate. If anyone has information about the events on West Pine Avenue that night, please contact the Lompoc Police Department.