Napa DA Files Homicide Charges In Double-Fatal Shooting

NAPA, CA — Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced the filing of homicide charges against Vallejo resident John Richard Wesley Nicholson Jr., 22, in connection with the shooting deaths of a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl Saturday in Napa.

Nicholson is accused of shooting the two victims at 8:10 p.m. during an altercation along the 400 block of Riverside Drive.

In addition to the two homicide charges filed against Nicholson, he is charged with the special circumstance of multiple killings. Additionally, he is charged with the special allegation of personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing death. It is further alleged that the crimes involved great bodily harm and involved a high degree of cruelty, viciousness and callousness; that the crimes were carried out with planning, sophistication and professionalism; and that the defendant engaged in violent conduct that indicates a significant danger to society.

Nicholson last appeared in court at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for an arraignment hearing. He was assigned a public defender and did not enter a plea.

Santa Rosa residents Jessica Whitten and Judith Adolph, both 19 years old, were also arrested in connection with the deaths and the DA's Office is investigating charges against the two suspected accomplices.

"Further details regarding this case will not be released at this time as Napa County Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur and Napa County District Attorney Investigator Nick Conrad, along with the assistance of the Napa Police Department, prepare the case against the defendant on behalf of the People," DA's Office Spokesperson Carlos Villatoro said.

The victims were identified Thursday as Sasha Mufich, 17, and Aileen Villasenor, 19, of Rohnert Park. Their names were not released until the Napa County Sheriff's Office could perform the autopsies to confirm their identities.

• Victims In Napa Double-Homicide Identified

According to Napa police, they were acquaintances and had familial ties to Napa.

Officers were dispatched at 8:10 p.m. Saturday to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of Riverside Drive, between Laurel and Oak streets near the Napa River. They found female victims next to the roadway, both suffering from gunshot wounds.

Although they were treated by emergency medical personnel, their injuries were too severe; one Mufich died at the scene and Villasenor died later at the hospital.

Detectives from several branches of Napa law enforcement worked to determine the person or persons responsible for the shooting and on Monday night, went to Vallejo to arrest Nicholson as the primary suspect.

Early Tuesday morning, members of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office arrested Whitten and Adolph in Santa Rosa. They were brought back to Napa County and booked into jail on suspicion of one count each of aiding in a felony.

Before this, there had not been a homicide in Napa since 2022.

Investigators did not believe it was a random shooting. It was not clear whether they determined a motive.

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• 3 Arrests Made In Napa Double Homicide, Police Say
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