Triple killing in Newport Beach gated community leaves neighbors stunned

Police have arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with a triple slaying in a private community in Newport Beach.

The Newport Beach Police Department received a call from Irvine police shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, requesting a welfare check at a home on Palazzo, in a private community, according to Heather Rangel, a public information officer with the agency.

The call came after Irvine police spoke with a man in the emergency room of Irvine Medical Center. When Newport Beach police arrived at the home, they found three people — two women and a man — dead.

Camden Burton Nicholson was booked late Wednesday by Newport police on suspicion of murder. Nicholson is named in property records as a relative of the Palazzo home’s owners.

Police detectives said it appeared all parties involved in the incident were known to one another and there was “no ongoing threat to the area.”

Because detectives are still notifying the victims’ relatives, the names of those killed have not been released.

The shooting left neighbors stunned.

Tien Lemay, 50, was taking her son to school Thursday morning when they noticed crime scene tape and police cruisers parked on the cul-de-sac behind their home.

Lemay said she didn’t know the victims but said three slayings on the street behind the home she has lived in for 15 years made for an unnerving Valentine’s Day.

“It makes you want to squeeze your kids a little bit harder,” she said.

Kirsten Aleman, 54, said she learned of the killings after her daughter nervously asked about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday why there were police cars in their neighborhood.

The community is known for going all out for holiday celebrations because of the many young families who live there, she said. On Halloween, neighbors will hand out glow sticks to children so drivers can see them when they cross the street.

“You move into certain neighborhoods, people stay to themselves, but not here; everyone is super friendly,” Aleman said.

Krystine Solomon, 47, said she moved to the neighborhood because of how safe it is for children.

“I really like the gated community because of our two young kids,” she said. “They can go out and ride their bikes, and I’ll know they’re safe. It’s a lot like my childhood.”

Langhorne writes for Times Community News. Times staff writers Hannah Fry and Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.

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