Teenager allegedly stabbed woman to death at NorCal mall

The Capitola Police Department is requesting assistance from the public amid its investigation into a fatal stabbing outside the coastal Capitola Mall on Monday.  

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Capitola police identified the victim as 73-year-old Rachell Summers of Capitola, who died of her injuries on Monday, according to a news release shared with SFGATE. Tyler Leibelt, a 19-year-old from Santa Cruz, was identified as the suspect and arrested shortly after the attack, which Capitola police are calling a “random act of violence.” 

“The Capitola Police Department is working closely 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 process the scene and continue the investigation,” the Tuesday statement read. 

Summers was stabbed near the Capitola Mall’s food court exit on Monday just before 1 p.m., the Capitola Police Department’s Monday news release said. Police officers arrived minutes later and immediately began life-saving measures. Summers, who was stabbed multiple times, died at the scene. Leibelt was located nearby on the 1400 block of 41st Avenue and taken into custody, the news release read. Leibelt has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail, according to jail records.

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Capitola police said in a statement that they believe there is no connection between Summers and Leibelt and added that there is no “ongoing threat to the community.” Anyone with information, photos or video recordings of the attack should contact the Capitola Police Department at 831-475-4242. 

SFGATE reached out to Capitola Mall for comment but did not hear back by publication.