A California teen accused of brutally stabbing a 73-year-old grandmother allegedly had a chilling urge to kill earlier than the lethal mall assault.
Tyler Leibelt, 19, pleaded not responsible Wednesday to fees stemming from the July stabbing loss of life of Rachell Summers — a model new grandmother — outdoors the Capitola Mall in Northern California.
Leibelt is charged with felony first-degree homicide and use of a lethal weapon in reference to the killing.
The Santa Cruz resident was a scholar at Cabrillo Faculty when the alleged assault unfolded. Investigators say Leibelt traveled to the faculty by Uber earlier than all of the sudden feeling an urge to kill somebody.
He allegedly shut off his cellphone and boarded a METRO bus sure for Capitola Mall, the place he went into Large 5 Sporting Items and acquired two switchblade knives.
The teenager allegedly thought of attacking an aged Asian man earlier than turning his consideration to Summers, who was caught off guard.
He allegedly stabbed the 73-year-old greater than 11 instances, based on the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Leibelt additionally allegedly considered killing a number of individuals and robbing a Macy’s on the mall earlier than finally attacking Summers.
Authorities had beforehand expressed considerations about Leibelt’s alleged violent intentions.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Division sought a gun violence emergency protecting order in opposition to the teenager in November after expressing a “need to trigger a mass casualty occasion.”
Courtroom data additionally state Leibelt beforehand disclosed homicidal “fantasies” and complained that he “stored getting set free” 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 residing in a sober residing setting when Rachell Summers was killed on July 20.
Summers was a gallery supervisor at Artwork of Santa Cruz and had change into a grandmother for the primary time simply final yr.
“Her passing has left a deep void within the lives of everybody who beloved her, particularly her grandson. Rachell grew to become a grandmother for the very first time final yr, and her solely grandchild will quickly be celebrating his first birthday,” a GoFundMe arrange for Summers acknowledged.
Leibelt stays in custody at Santa Cruz County Jail with out bail.
He’s scheduled to return to court docket Oct. 10 for the setting of his preliminary listening to.
