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Police have confirmed the identity of the Dublin man shot to death at his apartment nearly two weeks ago and revealed that online interactions provided a link between the victim and the suspect.
The victim was identified as 37-year-old Michael Dalipe, according to Dublin Police Chief Nate Schmidt.
“As far as motive goes we are still investigating. We hope looking at the victim and suspect’s online discussions will provide us more information. More to follow,” Schmidt told the Pleasanton Weekly by email Saturday. KTVU was the first to report that police were looking closely at communications between Dalipe and defendant Nicholas Paleveda on the gaming chat platform Discord, citing court records.
Paleveda, 38, formerly of Florida, has been charged with murder, firearm violations and special allegations in connection with the deadly shooting at the Emerald Park Apartment Homes complex on the afternoon of Aug. 23, according to Alameda County’s online inmate locator. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail nearby in Dublin with no bail.
Dalipe’s widow shared more about what transpired that fateful day and the legacy of her late husband in recent emotional posts online.
“We were together for 20 years (2004-2024) and were high school sweethearts. He was my rock, my best friend, my soulmate and especially my caregiver as I have numerous health issues,” Cynthia Dalipe wrote in a GoFundMe she started to raise money for general expenses in the aftermath of her husband’s death.
“He had a lot of gaming friends who were his second family,” she added. “We’re all in shock right now and trying to pick up the pieces after this immense loss. It’s now just me and our corgi.”
The GoFundMe page had raised more than $15,000, above its initial goal of $5,000, as of Sunday afternoon.
“I’m overwhelmed with how many people out there loved Michael,” Cynthia Dalipe wrote in a follow-up post on the GoFundMe on Saturday. “It’s been a really hard week without him, but seeing all of the memories, screenshots, pictures have brightened my day. I didn’t realize how many people he had an impact on after all of these years!!!”
“And to everyone who has donated: thank you, sincerely,” she said. “I can’t put into words how grateful I am to see these from all of you — from people I know personally, to total strangers. Michael constantly questioned his self-worth, and I wish I could show him how much he was loved and appreciated by others. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Cynthia Dalipe also briefly described what she experienced on Aug. 23.
She said her husband was shot at the front door of their apartment and died instantly. “I was there to witness the aftermath and call 9-1-1,” she stated.
In their original public statement, Dublin police said the victim — later identified as Michael Dalipe — was shot in the head at around 2:20 p.m. at the apartment complex on Hacienda Drive near the Central Parkway intersection. The shooter fled the scene and was not captured that Friday afternoon.
Police confirmed the next day that their prime suspect in the homicide, Paleveda, had been arrested in a Walmart parking lot in Barstow in southeastern California.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint against Paleveda on Aug. 29. He was arraigned but did not enter a plea to the charges that day, according to online court records. He is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 12.
