A California teenager, Tyler Leibelt, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge on Aug. 19, 2026, in connection with a July 2026 stabbing in the parking lot of Capitola Mall in Northern California that killed 73-year-old Rachell Summers. Leibelt is facing two felony charges, including first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon.

The prosecutors filed a bail enhancement, alleging that Leibelt committed murder while he was released and awaiting trial in a separate felony case. Leibelt pleaded not guilty before Judge Gary Paden, denying all allegations and enhancements against him. Leibelt is currently held without bail at Santa Cruz County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 2026.

Incident Details

On July 20, 2026, Leibelt traveled by Uber to Cabrillo College, where he was an accounting student, before he felt an urge to kill someone. He then shut off his phone, boarded a Metro bus bound for Capitola Mall, and bought two switchblade knives from Big 5 Sporting Goods. Leibelt allegedly told police that he bought two blades because he wanted to kill someone while holding one blade in each hand.

Before attacking Summers, Leibelt briefly considered attacking an Asian man. However, Leibelt noticed Summers, then followed her with a hidden knife before attacking her from behind at 12:44 p.m. Summers was stabbed more than 11 times in the back and chest, with defensive wounds on her forearms. Following the attack, Leibelt called 911 and turned himself in.

Background

Prior to the stabbing incident in July, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office sought an emergency gun violence restraining order against the defendant in November 2025 after Leibelt expressed a desire to cause a mass-casualty event. Leibelt had written a goodbye letter stating he wanted to “kill as many people as possible,” yet he was not kept in custody. Leibelt was out on bail for a separate felony case at the time of the stabbing and was living in a sober living environment when he set out to kill a stranger, according to prosecutors.

The gun violence restraining order, which was sought by police, only barred firearms and did not force Leibelt to remain in custody. Leibelt was therefore free and later bought knives before stabbing a woman to death. According to police filings, Leibelt had “multiple instances of violence towards others including a violent s*xual assault against a disabled minor.”

Leibelt admitted to police that he had homicidal thoughts and fantasies about killing someone since puberty, and after his arrest, he told staff that his thoughts persisted. The exact nature of Leibelt’s prior felony charge remains undisclosed in public reporting.

“Tyler Leibelt has expressed a desire to cause a mass casualty event. Tyler also wrote a goodbye letter expressing the desire to kill as many people as possible. Additionally, Tyler has multiple instances of violence against others,” a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy said.