Police say a suspect with ties to the family was arrested and remains jailed without bail.
Pleasanton, Calif. — Neighbors and friends in Pleasanton are mourning a mother and her son who were shot to death inside their home, a rare burst of violence for the Tri-Valley city as investigators prepare a case against a San Jose man arrested days after the killings.
The deaths of 67-year-old Lori Simonds and her 28-year-old son, Evan Simonds, have shaken a neighborhood near Ken Mercer Sports Park and left the family’s remaining relative trying to sort out grief and practical matters at the same time. Police have said the suspect recently dated a family member of the victims, and prosecutors are reviewing whether to file murder charges that could carry the harshest penalties under California law.
Residents who walked past the Joanne Circle home in the days after the shooting described a place where bad news usually comes in small pieces, not sirens and crime-scene tape. Elena Alvarez, pushing a stroller through the neighborhood, said the street is normally calm and the deaths felt unreal. “This is such a tranquil area that it’s shocking,” she said. Another longtime resident, Tom Hawkinson, said Pleasanton has grown fast over decades, but he could not remember anything like this happening nearby “for a long, long time.”
Police were called to the 3100 block of Joanne Circle at about 10 a.m. Wed., Feb. 18, after reports of gunfire. Officers entered the home and found the mother and son dead with multiple gunshot wounds, Pleasanton police have said. Detectives quickly focused on a suspect and worked with other agencies as they tried to locate him. The arrest came the next day in San Jose after an automated license plate reader alert helped officers identify a vehicle linked to the case, according to authorities. Police said the suspect was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin area custody.
The suspect was identified by Pleasanton police and local reports as Allen Swadley, a San Jose resident who investigators said had a recent dating relationship with a member of the victims’ family. Police have not publicly detailed a motive, and they have not said what led to the gunfire inside the home. Investigators recovered multiple firearms from Swadley’s vehicle and his residence and said further testing is needed to determine whether any of those weapons were used in the killings. Pleasanton police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that key pieces, including the motive, remain unknown.
The case has also carried a second jolt for the family and neighbors: After officers finished processing the home for evidence, police said someone broke in and stole two cars from the property late Thu., Feb. 19. Investigators have said they are looking into reported burglary activity and the stolen vehicles as part of the overall response. The separate thefts added to the sense of violation for friends who described the victims as private people who had built a life in Pleasanton and did not expect trouble to come to their door.
In the days that followed, grief spilled into public places around town. Dozens gathered at Ken Mercer Sports Park for a candlelight vigil, sharing stories about Lori Simonds and her son, who friends said sometimes went by his middle name, James. At the vigil, attendees described Lori as someone who opened her home to others. “Lori’s house was always open to everybody,” one mourner said, while another called the pair “great people” who would be missed. People who knew Evan Simonds through wrestling also showed up, mixing the world of school friends and neighbors with a circle that knew him from the ring.
Evan Simonds was an independent wrestler in Northern California, friends and wrestling groups said, and he trained at a pro wrestling school in Oakland. Teammates said he brought energy and kindness into gyms that can be tough places for newcomers. Cindy “S.C.” Gonzalez, who said she attended the same wrestling school, described him as upbeat and dedicated. “James has been a very positive, amazing guy, always a very hard worker,” she said. Gonzalez said he spoke often about his family and how they supported him at shows, describing a close bond that made the loss feel even heavier for those who heard it.
Friends outside wrestling described Lori Simonds as devoted to her children and steady in her routines. Jacki Bott, a family friend who helped organize support for the family, said Lori’s love for her kids came through in simple moments. “She just had joy and love for her kids,” Bott said, adding that the victims were “innocent, sweet, community members.” Those who knew the family said the deaths have left Lori’s daughter, Melissa, as the only immediate family member, and that she has been leaning on friends and neighbors while dealing with funeral arrangements and the sudden loss of her home’s sense of safety.
A fundraising campaign set up in Melissa’s name drew donations as community members looked for a way to help without intruding. Organizers said the money is intended to cover funeral costs and household bills as she copes with what friends described as a staggering and isolating loss. Some neighbors said they saw Melissa and others moving items out of the home as the investigation continued, a task made more difficult by the need to preserve evidence and the fear that the house had already been targeted by burglars. Those present said they declined to comment publicly while the case remains active.
Law enforcement officials have framed the arrest as the product of rapid coordination. Pleasanton Police Chief Tracy Avelar said detectives worked “nonstop” and credited support teams and partner agencies for helping move the case quickly. San Jose police also highlighted the cross-city effort after the license plate reader alert, noting that the suspect was located roughly 30 miles from the Pleasanton neighborhood where the victims were found. Investigators have said the killings appear tied to a personal relationship and have described the incident as isolated, though they continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.
Prosecutors in Alameda County are weighing charges and potential special-circumstance allegations related to multiple victims, which can increase sentencing stakes in California. Swadley is being held without bail, and Pleasanton Weekly reported he was scheduled for arraignment Tue., Feb. 24, at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin. Police have not released detailed court documents describing the evidence they plan to present, and they have not said whether additional charges connected to the burglary or stolen cars are expected. Investigators said they will continue forensic testing of recovered firearms and other evidence as the case moves into court.
For Pleasanton residents, the shock has been personal and immediate. Donna Hawkinson, a neighbor, said the damage reaches beyond the two lives lost, describing a ripple of grief through friends and relatives. “He’s ruined his entire life, and he took two lives of innocent people,” she said of the suspect. As candles burned at the park and people hugged near the field lights, mourners spoke in short sentences, often pausing to collect themselves, and some said they were still waiting to wake up from what felt like a nightmare in a place known for quiet streets and youth sports.
As of Monday night, police said the motive remained under investigation and the case file was being reviewed for formal charges. Authorities have said the next major milestone is the suspect’s first court appearance, expected Tue., Feb. 24, as detectives continue testing evidence from the home, the traffic stop and recovered firearms.
Author note: Last updated February 24, 2026.