A 73-year-old woman who managed a local art gallery was stabbed to death outside the Capitola Mall on Monday in what authorities are calling a random and unprovoked attack, according to the Capitola Police Department.
The suspect, 19-year-old Tyler Liebelt of Santa Cruz, was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing in the 1400 block of 41st Avenue, just blocks from the scene. Investigators say there is no evidence that Liebelt and Summers knew each other before the attack.
Liebelt has since been charged with murder, with an added enhancement for lying in wait, and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, according to KSBW News.
NTD News has contacted the Capitola Police Department to confirm those details but received no response prior to publication.
Summers managed the Art of Santa Cruz gallery inside the mall, which closed for the remainder of the week following her death, according to local media. A memorial has grown outside the mall in her honor.
Marilyn Gwynn, a coworker of Summers, described the shock of learning her identity as the victim. "You cannot, you cannot process that. You know, it's too hard. It's too hard," Gwynn said.
Gwynn also reflected on the randomness of the attack. "The president of our nonprofit calls me and says it was Rachel. Like what? I mean, you just can't believe it," Gwynn said. "A 73-year-old woman, that's who he picked, really? Yeah. I mean, I'm so in shock. I'm in shock.”
Friends and colleagues remembered Summers as devoted to both her family and the local arts community. "She gave by putting her energy into the store and into the artists and helping us run the store," Gwynn said. "She didn't have to do that at 73. She contributed to us, to our organization, and we will miss her.”
Capitola Mayor Margaux Keiser sought to reassure residents that the stabbing does not reflect the character of the beachside community. "This isn't Capitola," Keiser told the outlet. "We will rise above this. We will move forward and not forget this and just be aware. But this is just a total random act and a one-time thing. And we really want to make sure that everybody still feels safe.”
Police said the mall was expected to reopen once investigators finished processing the scene, and it resumed normal business operations Tuesday.
The Capitola Police Department said it is working with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Forensic Services Unit, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office and the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team to continue the investigation. Because the stabbing happened in a public location, detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the attack or has photos, video, or other relevant information to call the Capitola Police Department at 831-475-4242.