Leah Sylvania Christopher was 15 when she was fatally shot at her Lemon Grove home on Central Avenue on April 15, 2020. Her twin sister, Caira Rachel Christopher, was killed in the same incident. Both girls were shot by Dwayne Edward Groves Jr., who had been in a relationship with their mother, Joann Hoyt, and had been considered a father figure by the children.

He also assaulted Hoyt’s 22-year-old son during the attack; Hoyt and other children escaped. Deputies, aided by a patrol helicopter, located Groves hiding in a nearby backyard and arrested him. He was charged with multiple counts including first-degree murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, burglary, shooting at an occupied house, child abuse, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors described his actions as premeditated based on a phone call he made to Hoyt earlier that day.

At sentencing in April 2023, Groves received life without parole plus an additional 72 years to life. Family members spoke about the betrayal and lasting harm to the family; the girls’ grandparents and other relatives described the devastating impact. Does anyone have information about Leah or Caira’s lives in Lemon Grove or memories of them to share?