California mall stabbing suspect had homicidal “fantasies” earlier than assault

A California teen accused of stalking and killing a 73-year-old grandmother had already been on authorities’ radar as a possible risk months earlier than prosecutors say he randomly hunted down his alleged sufferer.

Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputies sought a gun violence emergency protecting order towards Tyler Leibelt in November after concluding he posed a critical hazard.

Deputies wrote within the submitting that Leibelt had expressed “a need to trigger a mass casualty occasion.”

Authorities additionally alleged Leibelt had a historical past of violence, stating: “Tyler has a number of situations of violence towards others, together with a violent sexual assault towards a disabled minor.”

That allegation has not been publicly detailed, and data could also be restricted as a result of it might have occurred whereas Leibelt was a juvenile, when courtroom information are sometimes shielded.

Court docket data additionally state Leibelt beforehand disclosed homicidal “fantasies” and complained that he “stored getting let loose” of custody, a comment anticipated to accentuate criticism over his launch whereas dealing with one other felony case.

Prosecutors say Leibelt was awaiting trial in one other felony case and dwelling in a sober dwelling setting when Rachell Summers was killed on July 20.

Investigators allege Leibelt’s lethal plan unfolded after he traveled by Uber to Cabrillo School, the place he was an accounting scholar.

Prosecutors say he determined it was a “carried out deal” that he was going to kill somebody, turned off his cellphone to keep away from interruptions and boarded a METRO bus to Capitola Mall to discover a sufferer.

Authorities say he stopped at Massive 5 Sporting Items, the place he bought two switchblade knives.

In line with prosecutors, Leibelt later informed detectives he purchased two blades as a result of he needed to carry one in every hand whereas killing somebody.

Investigators say he demonstrated stabbing motions with each palms throughout questioning.

Earlier than allegedly attacking Summers, prosecutors say Leibelt thought of focusing on an aged Asian man however determined towards it as a result of passing automobiles might intrude and he believed the person may resist.

Authorities allege Leibelt then selected Summers, adopted her whereas retaining a knife hidden, waited till she was unaware of him, eliminated the weapon from its packaging and rushed towards her.

Summers was strolling to a close-by financial institution after selecting up her paycheck when she was attacked at 12:44 p.m.

The longtime artist, author and gallery supervisor at Artwork of Santa Cruz had lately celebrated turning into a grandmother for the primary time.

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Her household stated, “Her passing has left a deep void within the lives of everybody who liked her, particularly her grandson.”

Prosecutors allege she was stabbed greater than 11 occasions, struggling wounds to her again and chest together with defensive accidents to her forearms.

Leibelt allegedly informed investigators he heard Summers scream, “Assist me.”

After his arrest, prosecutors acknowledged that Leibelt, a Santa Cruz resident, admitted to experiencing homicidal ideas and fantasies about killing somebody since puberty.

Leibelt, 19, was scheduled to look in Santa Cruz County Superior Court docket on homicide expenses Tuesday, however his court-appointed public defender requested one other postponement, transferring the listening to to Aug. 19.

The delay comes as scrutiny intensifies over why Leibelt was free on bail in one other felony case when prosecutors say he allegedly got down to kill a stranger.

At Tuesday’s listening to, the decide additionally granted a protection request barring media from photographing or recording video of Leibelt till additional discover.

He stays jailed with out bail.