19-year-old Santa Cruz man charged with murder after pre-planned mall stabbing

In November, Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputies sought an emergency protective order against Tyler Leibelt after he voiced a wish to carry out a mass-casualty attack, a filing that remains largely undisclosed. While awaiting trial on an unrelated felony, Leibelt, a 19-year-old accounting student, traveled by Uber to Cabrillo College, then took one outlet bus to Capitola Mall on July 20, where he purchased two switchblade knives at Big 5 Sporting Goods, intending to hold one in each hand.

Prosecutors allege he rehearsed the attack, considered but rejected an elderly Asian man as a victim, and ultimately stalked Rachell Summers, who was heading to a nearby bank after picking up her paycheck. At 12:44 p.m., he lunged at her, stabbing her over 11 times in the back and chest, causing fatal injuries. Leibelt later admitted to long-standing homicidal fantasies and is now jailed without bail, with his murder hearing postponed to August 19 and a media gag order in place.