Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 18:37
A 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death outside Capitola Mall in a random attack Monday afternoon, according to Capitola police. The suspect, a 19-year-old from Santa Cruz, was quickly arrested.
Just before 1 p.m. on July 20, 2026, police responded to reports of a stabbing near the food court exit at Capitola Mall. Officers found Rachell Summers, a Capitola resident, on Clares Street across from Macy’s with multiple stab wounds. Despite life-saving efforts from first responders, Summers died at the scene. Officers immediately began performing lifesaving care before they were relieved by personnel from the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County and the American Medical Response, but Summers was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s body was covered in a black tarp on a grassy median not far from the Macy’s entrance. The slaying occurred at 12:47 p.m., according to the Capitola Police Department.
Police located the suspect, Tyler Leibelt, nearby on the 1400 block of 41st Avenue. Leibelt called law enforcement to turn himself in, according to Capitola Police Chief Sarah Ryan. He was taken into custody without incident. According to police radio traffic, Leibelt phoned 911 dispatchers and said he was the man who stabbed the victim, and that he was standing in back of the Best Western Hotel a few blocks away on 41st Avenue. Capitola Police and Sheriff’s Deputies rushed to the scene and took Leibelt, wearing dark pants, a hoodie and a bloody T-shirt, into custody.
Summers’ daughter, Ali Robinson, described her mother as a longtime community member who supported local artists. “She was the kindest, sweetest person,” Robinson said. Summers was a writer and illustrator, working on a children’s book at the time of her death. She leaves behind a nearly one-year-old grandson. Summers was also a local artist who managed the Art of Santa Cruz art gallery, which closed for the remainder of the week following the incident. According to media reports, she had just picked up her paycheck and was heading to the bank when she was attacked. In an Instagram post, the gallery announced it would be closed until Saturday. “We are mourning the loss of our gallery manager, Rachell Summers,” the post reads. News of the random, deadly attack shook the beachside community, with residents taking to social media to recall the beloved artist. “This is so tragic,” one person commented on the gallery’s post, noting that Summers had recently bid on an orchid print they were preparing for her. She “was such a delight to talk with every time I went in,” another person commented. “Her presence will be missed.”
The Capitola Police Department expressed its condolences in a statement, saying, “Our hearts remain with Rachell's family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic and senseless act of violence.”
Local news station KSBW reported a memorial was set up outside the mall to honor Summers. “You cannot, you cannot process that,” an emotional co-worker, Marilyn Gwynn, told KSBW. “It’s too hard. It’s too hard.” A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to create an education fund for Summers’ grandson, who she recently became a grandmother for the first time. “Her passing has left a deep void in the lives of everyone who loved her, especially her grandson,” the fundraiser reads.
Leibelt has been charged with first-degree murder and commission of a felony while out on bail. He is being held without bail at Santa Cruz County Jail. Police found no evidence that Summers and Leibelt knew each other, leading them to classify the attack as random. According to court documents, Leibelt confessed that he had considered several random targets before deciding to stab Summers, and told investigators he wanted to kill someone that day. Court records show Leibelt is also charged with a violent felony enhancement under California Penal Code 667.5, indicating a prior felony conviction that could lead to a longer sentence if convicted. Leibelt’s criminal history is not available online, and Capitola Police Chief Sarah Ryan declined to comment on his background. Court records also indicate Leibelt has been charged with several sentencing enhancements, including use of a deadly weapon and killing while lying in wait.
Multiple agencies assisted in the response, including the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team, Watsonville Police, California State Parks, and Santa Cruz Police. Clares Street was sealed off with police tape from the stoplight near Bay Federal Credit Union to the entrance of the Target parking lot, with at least 10 law enforcement vehicles and one ambulance on site. The mall was placed on lockdown and evacuated but reopened for regular hours Tuesday. Police shut down the mall, except for the Target Store, for the rest of the day. The Capitola Police Department is working with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Unit, Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, and the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team to process the scene and continue the investigation.
Leibelt appeared in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 22, for arraignment on murder charges. Judge Leila Sayar appointed two public defense attorneys for Leibelt, and the arraignment was delayed until July 29 at the request of the defense. According to prosecutor Kristal Salcido, Leibelt has been charged in a felony criminal complaint with one count of murder with special circumstances of lying in wait and a special allegation of use of a weapon. He remains held without bail.
Diamond Rocha, a Claire’s employee, was on her way to the mall when she found her car sandwiched between police vehicles as she arrived. “I parked to get out of their way, and when I got out, I was going to clock into work, they both followed me into the mall,” she told Lookout. Rocha said she and her manager were trying to figure out what was happening, and several minutes later, an officer told them they needed to evacuate, but didn’t give a reason. “My adrenaline was rushing, like I was shaking,” she said. “Nobody was running or anything, so we didn’t see any urgency until we were told to evacuate. And then everybody hustled out,” said Rocha’s coworker, Carina Williams. Rocha said it’s far from a normal occurrence. “Sometimes we’ll see cops walking around, but I think that’s for normal theft going on.”
A 12-year-old girl who was joined by her mother and a friend said they were shopping in Claire beauty shop. “… and then all of a sudden police are telling us that we had to evacuate,” she said. “So we went outside and the police are making us move even further away. We were thinking someone got killed or assaulted. We were really nervous and scared.”
Terry Camion, who has owned Santa Cruz Apparel with his wife at the mall for the last 20 years, said, “We’ve had crimes here at the mall, but nothing like this. When I saw police running through here with assault rifles out, I knew something big was up. Overall, the police response was top notch—very impressive. And it really helps that the staff here is really involved with training for things like this.”
Chief Ryan told Lookout on Tuesday that the mall’s manager has increased security for the time being, and Capitola Police Department will have more patrols in the area to support the community. She acknowledges how scary the situation was for many. “Because we have no reason to believe that our suspect had any knowledge of who the victim was, there’s that sense of insecurity behind the fact it was so random,” she said, adding that she’s grateful for the coordinated response between multiple agencies. “It’s the time to wrap the community up and say ‘that was scary, but we are here.'” Ryan said she was thinking of the community when she went to bed at the end of the day, and while she understands people may still feel afraid or unsafe, she emphasized that it was a very uncommon situation. “I think it’s important to remind people, because these things, of course, put an imprint in our mind,” she said. “This is standing out for you because you’re not desensitized to it, because it doesn’t happen often. This is not normal, and let’s not accept it as being normal.”
Capitola is a small coastal city in Santa Cruz County, known for its beach and shopping areas. The attack at Capitola Mall, a major retail hub, has shaken the community. The mall is located a little more than a mile from Capitola Beach, a popular beach resort. Police urge anyone with information, photos, or video to contact the Capitola Police Department at 831-475-4242.
Random acts of violence in public spaces are rare in Capitola, a city of about 10,000 residents. The last high-profile violent incident at the mall was a minor altercation years ago. This stabbing has drawn widespread attention from local and regional news outlets. The suspect, Tyler Leibelt, is a Cabrillo College student studying accounting.
Authorities emphasize that this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat. The community mourns the loss of Rachell Summers, a beloved local figure. The investigation continues.
