A 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of a 73-year-old artist in a shopping mall parking lot in Capitola, California. The incident is being investigated as a random act of violence, according to the Capitola Police Department.
Rachell Summers, a local artist and manager of the Art of Santa Cruz gallery, was found with multiple stab wounds in the parking lot outside the Capitola Mall's food court on Monday afternoon. The gallery has since closed for the remainder of the week.
The suspect, identified as Tyler Leibelt, 19, was arrested shortly after the attack. Court records indicate Leibelt is charged with murder and a violent felony allegation, which could lead to significantly longer incarceration if convicted. Police stated that there is no indication the suspect knew the victim prior to the attack.
Capitola, a beach resort town in the Santa Cruz area, is located about a mile from Capitola Beach. The investigation into the stabbing is ongoing.