Chicoans are honoring the memory of a 28-year-old university student and community volunteer who died Dec. 3 in what police are investigating as a murder-suicide.
Biological sciences major Alexandra Wynter, 28, was reported dead Dec. 3 in what the Chico Police Department has said was a fatal shooting on Warner Street. President Steve Perez said in a campuswide announcement Dec. 5 that she was on track to graduate in spring 2026, completing her degree while working at Enloe Health.
Faculty and staff described Wynter as personable, very engaged and with “exceptional integrity,” the university reported in an email. Instructors such as Nicole Kilian remembered class with Wynter this semester, calling her “brilliant and driven.”
In her time at Chico State, Wynter served as community connections director for Chico State’s Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) for nearly four years according to her LinkedIn account. She also was an active member of the Black Student Union and was known for volunteering throughout Chico with different organizations.
In May 2020, Wynter gave an interview to ChicoSol about her work as coordinator for an outreach program that gave her the opportunity to build relationships with unhoused women.
“I’m out there every day,” Wynter told ChicoSol. “We’ve been able to build a sense of trust. I’m actually really excited about the possibilities of establishing a permanent outreach team and a campground.”
Chico City Councilmember Addison Winslow shared in a Dec. 5 Instagram post that he knew Wynter from those efforts around town, including working with unhoused people in need. He called her a “friend and neighbor” who co-coordinated mutual aid in 2020.
“Alex was intelligent, well-organized and had warmth and kindness that made her an ideal street outreach worker and balance to my more rugged style of organizing,” Winslow said.
Kilian, who taught Wynter in a hematology course, recalled that on one occasion Wynter noticed she had accidentally been given extra points on an exam and requested a correction — “a small moment that, to Kilian, reflected her deep integrity,” says a university obituary in Chico State Today.
Chico police said investigators identified Anthony Lopez, 33, as a suspect in the Dec. 3 shooting. Lopez died the same night as Wynter in the home they shared. Chico police Lt. Ben Love told ChicoSol by email that evidence supports the suspicion that Lopez was responsible for both of their deaths.
“Detectives are still collecting evidence, piecing together the nature of their relationship, and working to discover the reason why this tragedy occurred,” Love said. He added that Wynter’s death comes on top of other tragedies believed to be connected to domestic violence.
In April, Chico State student Athena Passidakis was killed. In 2023, Butte County lost Xe Lor.
Perez has reminded the campus community that counseling support is available through WellCat Counseling Center at 855-530-6802.
“If you have been impacted by dating or domestic violence or are looking for support, please know that help is available both on- and off-campus,” the president’s email states. “In an emergency, or situation where you fear for your safety, call 911. Otherwise, to report an incident, the Equal Opportunity and Dispute Resolution (Title IX) office at 530-898-4949.”
In his social media post, Winslow reminded the community that people need to watch out for each other.
“I think of the importance of being close with our friends and neighbors, recognizing signs of domestic violence and showing the same sympathy and kindness in offering help to others that Alex showed throughout her life,” Winslow said. “We were lucky to have her as part of our community.”
Natalie Hanson is a contributing writer to ChicoSol. Editor Leslie Layton contributed to this story.
“I think of the importance of being close with our friends and neighbors, recognizing signs of domestic violence and showing the same sympathy and kindness in offering help to others that Alex showed throughout her life,” Winslow said. “We were lucky to have her as part of our community.”