Photo: Stock Image
The prophet Kahlil Gibran, in addressing the joys and challenges of marriage between a man and a woman, once wrote “Let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but not make a bond of love: Let it be rather a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
That lovely sentiment was apparently overlooked in the opening hours of April 30th when 60-year-old Lompoc resident Zavian Armone Chappell lost complete control of his emotions and decided to stop arguing with his 59-year-old wife Cassandra Chappell. It was at approximately 3:00 a.m. when the shouting between the two drove Chappell to stop talking and pick up his 9mm handgun.
According to Lompoc Police Department spokesman Sgt. Vincent Magallon, once Chappell had the gun in hand, he pulled the trigger twice, shooting Cassandra and their 29-year-old nephew.
Neighbors’ calls to 911 reporting “a domestic disturbance” brought cops to the scene with all due alacrity. Upon arrival, patrol deputies found “the nephew with multiple gunshot wounds” and Cassandra deceased. The nephew was rushed to a local area hospital for treatment of his wounds while Chappell was arrested at the scene.
Chappell was transported to Lompoc City Jail, where he was booked on charges of murder, use of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and attempted murder. He remains in custody with his bail set at $2,000,000.firearms-related offenses.
