In the quiet suburban neighborhood of Lakewood, California, a routine morning turned into unimaginable horror on January 15, 2026. What began as an ordinary family outing ended in tragedy, leaving a community in shock and grief. A calm eyewitness, a longtime neighbor living just doors away, has now come forward with a haunting account that sheds light on the final moments before the violence erupted.

The neighbor, who prefers to remain anonymous, described watching the couple—48-year-old Roxana Rodriguez and her 52-year-old husband Hector Lionel Alfaro—leave their home together that morning. “They walked out as a family, seeming normal,” she recalled. “They were gone for about 40 minutes. Then, only the wife came back first, walking quickly up the driveway. Her husband followed a short time later, also moving fast.”

The neighbor noticed something off immediately. “I wanted to say hello and ask how they were doing, like we usually do. But both of them were in such a hurry—they didn’t even glance my way. They just rushed inside without a word. It felt strange, almost urgent.” Little did she know those hurried steps would precede one of the most devastating incidents in the area’s recent history.

Authorities later confirmed the grim details: Hector Lionel Alfaro fatally shot his wife Roxana in one bedroom and their 17-year-old daughter Sienna Alfaro in another, both suffering gunshot wounds to the upper torso. The couple’s 19-year-old daughter, who had been asleep, was awakened by the gunfire. In a terrifying sequence, Alfaro turned the weapon on her, firing multiple times—but miraculously missed. He then took his own life in the den, collapsing near his surviving daughter as she desperately called for help.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrived swiftly after the 911 call, discovering the heartbreaking scene. Two firearms were recovered from the home, and the incident was officially ruled a murder-suicide. No clear motive has been publicly disclosed, leaving friends, family, and neighbors searching for answers amid the pain.

The surviving daughter, now facing unimaginable trauma, has received an outpouring of support. A candlelight vigil was held shortly after, where community members gathered to honor Roxana, remembered as a devoted mother who always put her children first, and Sienna, described as a bright, gentle soul whose smile lit up those around her.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how domestic violence can erupt without warning, even in seemingly peaceful neighborhoods. The neighbor’s simple observation—two people returning separately, rushing inside—has become a chilling prelude to the loss of two lives and the shattering of a family. As investigations continue, the focus remains on supporting those left behind, hoping to prevent such heartbreak in the future.