Update: Suspect in shooting case dies in custody
Update posted July 20
Nicole Honait Luxor.
–Nicole Luxor, a 62-year-old Paso Robles woman and self-proclaimed clairvoyant who was accused of murdering her roommate and then firing about 40 shots at responding police officers during a standoff in November, died at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Saturday. Luxor reportedly died of gallbladder cancer, which metastasized to her liver.
Luxor was facing one count of premeditated murder for the shooting death of ranch hand Benjamin Terra, as well as five counts of attempted murder for shots she allegedly fired at police officers during a nine-hour standoff.
She had pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Update posted Dec. 11, 2015, 12:00 p.m.
The grow operation appears to have been in violation of medical guidelines
–More details are emerging regarding the case surrounding the death of 34-year-old Paso Robles man Benjamin Terra.
Benjamin Terra
Terra was found shot in rural Paso Robles in November. Nicole Luxor, Terra’s 61-year-old former landlord, remains in custody as a suspect in his murder. Luxor was arrested after a nine hour standoff with police, during which she fired shots at officers, resulting in an additional 36 counts of attempted murder.
Luxor and Terra were running an indoor marijuana growing operation, according to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Tony Cipolla. Police recovered 104 pounds of dry processed bud and 43 pounds of dried, manicured marijuana used to convert into hash or oils, according to Cipolla. The estimated value of the marijuana is over $200,000.
It appeared that the grow operation was initially set up to be a legal, but based on the investigation it was in violation of medical marijuana guidelines, authorities said.
“The victim was on the property primarily for the purpose of cultivating and harvesting marijuana for sale,” said Cipolla.
Update posted Nov. 16, 2015, 3:34 p.m.
Identify of murder victim released
–The Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the victim in the homicide investigation for the incident that occurred on the 4200 block of Old Nacimiento Road in rural Paso Robles on Saturday. The man has been identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Derrel Terra of Paso Robles. Terra is the apparent victim of gunshot wounds. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.
The suspect in this case was previously identified as 61-year-old Nicole Honait Luxor of Paso Robles. She is currently in custody in County Jail on one count of murder and 36 counts of attempted murder. Bail for Luxor is set at one million dollars.
Update posted Nov. 16, 2015:
Suspect Nicole Honait Luxor is self-described clairvoyant, owner of Dancing Horse Retreat
–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of the suspect involved in what began as a barricaded subject incident and then turned into a homicide investigation in the 4200 block of Old Nacimiento Road in rural Paso Robles Saturday.
The suspect is identified as 61-year-old Nicole Honait Luxor of Paso Robles. Luxor is the owner of the Dancing Horse Retreat, where the incident occurred, and also works as a self-described clairvoyant.
She was booked into jail on one count of murder. Bail is set at $1 million.
Deputies had responded to that location on Saturday to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When they arrived, Luxor had barricaded herself inside. Members of the sheriff’s SED (Special Enforcement Detail) made entry into the home and discovered a deceased male victim. Luxor retreated upstairs but not before firing one shot at deputies. No one was hurt.
Members of the SED team retreated back outside the home. Negotiators tried contacting the suspect to no avail. After repeated attempts to contact the suspect, SED members deployed tear gas into the home. The suspect responded with multiple gunshots fired at law enforcement personnel. No one was injured. Just before midnight, Luxor gave up and she was taken into custody unharmed. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The victim is described as a white male adult in his early 30’s.
Original story posted Nov. 15, 2015:
Man dead, woman arrested in rural Paso Robles after nine-hour standoff
–A female suspect in her early 60s was arrested just before midnight Saturday after a nine-hour standoff with authorities at a home in rural northwest Paso Robles. A man in his early 30s is confirmed dead at the home.
The incident began when San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies received a report of a possible assault with a deadly weapon in the 4200 block of Old Nacimiento Road in rural Paso Robles.
Deputies, negotiators and the county’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED), similar to a SWAT force, responded to the scene.
When Deputies arrived the female suspect barricaded herself inside. Members of the sheriff’s SED made entry into the home and discovered a deceased male subject. The suspect retreated upstairs but not before firing one shot at deputies. No one was hurt.
Members of the SED team retreated back outside the home. Negotiators tried contacting the suspect to no avail.
After repeated attempts to contact the suspect, SED members deployed tear gas into the home. The suspect responded with multiple gunshots fired at law enforcement personnel. Again, no one was injured.
Just before midnight, approximately nine hours after the incident first began, the suspect gave up and she was taken into custody unharmed.
As a result of the tear gas, a small fire began in an upstairs bedroom. Cal Fire was staged at the scene and quickly controlled the fire. The Paso Robles Fire Department also responded to assist.
No further information is available at this time.
About the San Luis Obispo County Special Enforcement Detail
The Special Enforcement Detail is a highly trained and specially equipped tactical team designed to resolve critical incidents including, but not limited to, hostage situations, barricaded suspects, armed suicidal subjects, crowd control, and high-risk warrant service. The Special Enforcement Detail is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and the Atascadero Police Department and includes deputies, officers and sergeants under the authority of the Special Enforcement Detail commander.
I can't believe this happened. I knew both of them. This is crazy to me.
How did they know one another I wonder.
i was told he was her tenant. Very curios as to what happened… I lived on that property a little over a year ago and am blown away that this has happened.
So heartbreaking.
Me too! I've known her since 1973. I read that she went to court yesterday but have not heard what happened. I've been so upset since I found out. In shock! Please let me know if you hear any news. I'm in Los Angeles area, so I see only what's on the net.
To the PRDN, your coverage of this story is more factual and overall, much better than that of the Tribune.
So sad… Especially in my hometown. 🙁 it used to be a lot more peaceful.
I can't believe this happened. I knew both of them. This is crazy to me.
How did they know one another I wonder.
i was told he was her tenant. Very curios as to what happened… I lived on that property a little over a year ago and am blown away that this has happened.
So heartbreaking.
Me too! I've known her since 1973. I read that she went to court yesterday but have not heard what happened. I've been so upset since I found out. In shock! Please let me know if you hear any news. I'm in Los Angeles area, so I see only what's on the net.
To the PRDN, your coverage of this story is more factual and overall, much better than that of the Tribune.
So sad… Especially in my hometown. 🙁 it used to be a lot more peaceful.