Man is Sentenced for Killing Former Roommate

The courtroom was relatively quiet Monday as Pomona Superior Court Judge Mike Camacho sentenced a man convicted of killing his former roommate at a Diamond Bar home.

For fatally shooting Ryan Alan Modica, 39, his former roommate, Kyle Christopher Jacobs, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison minus several hundred days already served.

Jacobs was also ordered to reimburse the Modica family more than $2,000 in funeral expenses.

Following the verdict, Jacobs, in a blue prison jumpsuit, motioned his approval to family and friends. His mother Christine Jacobs sat quietly.

Modica’s family, also in attendance, sat in stunned silence.

“I’m not real happy with Camacho’s ruling,” Arthur Modica, Ryan’s father said after the hearing. “For what the jury convicted him of, for the judge to go to the (low-term) sentencing is difficult. I know Kyle Jacobs didn’t have any record, but I know in my heart that he intended to kill my son if he went back to the house.”

Jacobs' mother declined to comment.

On June 21, a jury convicted Kyle Jacobs of voluntary manslaughter and a special gun allegation in connection with the shooting death. During Monday’s hearing, Camacho explained he was talking low-term sentencing because the evidence showed Jacobs was defending himself.

Evidence showed that Modica arrived at Jacobs' home uninvited on April 7, 2011 and threatened to strike Jacobs with a metal hammer, Judge Camacho said.

“Mr. Jacobs did not invite this incident upon himself,” Judge Camacho said. “It was Mr. Modica, unfortunately, who created the situation which resulted in his own death. I feel that Mr. Jacobs, although he did not act wisely in handling the situation, he did make an effort in the past with law-enforcement to get some advice as how to what he should do … he was at his wits end.”

But just before the shooting, the judge said it was evident Jacobs had dared Modica to cross a line, almost enticing him to try and attack. The shooting was objectively overkill, the judge said.

The shooting happened April 7, 2011, at the home at 1100 block of North Del Sol Lane in Diamond Bar. Jacobs told authorities that Modica moved toward him and threatened to hit him with a hammer. Fearing for his life, Jacobs said he fired a shotgun, striking Modica in the face. He died at the scene.

According to testimony at the trial, Modica and Jacobs had been friends. Modica had rented a room in the Jacobs' home.

But things began to unravel weeks in when Christine Jacobs, the home’s owner, began to suspect their tenant was selling drugs out of the residence, according to testimony. Tensions heightened when Modica was evicted.

Things came to a head on a Thursday morning. Modica confronted Jacobs in front of the home’s garage. Prosecutors said Jacobs was prepared to kill Modica if he showed up at the home and was armed with a shotgun and ammunition in anticipation.

The defense claimed Modica had been threatening to harm the family, briefly forcing them family into hiding in Rialto.

Arthur Modica said he understood his son went to the home, but Jacobs' reaction was beyond excessive.

“At least we got closure. He’s not going to get away without doing some time,” he said.