(UPDATED 8:20 A.M.) SANTA CRUZ – Friends of downtown business owner Shannon Kathleen Collins mourned her loss Tuesday after police identified her as the victim of Monday”s “unprovoked, random” stabbing.
Longtime friend Timerie Gordon said those who knew Collins were “very angry and sad and trying to make sense of something that will never be sensible.”
Collins, 38, co-owner of Camouflage on Pacific Avenue, was walking from home to a hairdresser”s appointment when police say she was “savagely” attacked about 11:50 a.m. on the 300 block of Broadway.
View or sign a memorial guest book for Shannon Collins
Minutes later, after a number of calls to 911, police arrested 43-year-old Charles Anthony Edwards III of San Francisco on suspicion of murder. Authorities declined to say how the encounter started and what led to her vicious slaying.
“She didn”t know him and was not involved with him in any way,” Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark said. “It was just the misfortune of fate that she crossed paths with him.”
Police on Tuesday were constructing a time line of what led to the slaying. They said Edwards had been in Santa Cruz about a week. It was unclear where he was living.
Edwards is a convicted felon with an extensive violent criminal history in San Francisco.
In 1992, Edwards was convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon, according to San Francisco court records. In 1996, he was convicted of battery and in 2000 convicted of making criminal threats.
The 2000 conviction led to a 16-month prison sentence that included a stint in Atascadero State Hospital, which provides psychiatric recovery services. Police declined to discuss what his mental state might have been at the time of the slaying.
Edwards is expected to be arraigned today in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on a charge of murder as well as seven special allegations, including use of a deadly weapon and prior serious felonies.
He is being held in County Jail in lieu of $875,000 bail. Police have not released his photo because they were doing photo lineups Tuesday.
REMEMBERING SHANNON
Collins” friends reeled Tuesday as word spread of her death.
“We”re all very upset,” said friend Cindee Damron. “She is so well-loved and one of the kindest, sweetest people I”ve ever met.”
Friends described Collins as a loving, caring person. She was an avid reader, a gardener and an amazing cook, Damron said. Collins and her husband, Ken Vinson, had no children.
“She had a loving spirit and a great sense of humor,” Damron said. “She was just sweet as could be.”
Collins and Vinson bought Camouflage from owner Joan Levine in 2006. The store sells lingerie and adult products in “a unique space where beauty and health meet in an empowering way,” according to a statement on the store”s 30th anniversary in 2010.
She and Ken were customers and friends of the store for a long time. When they found it was for sale, they jumped at the opportunity, Levine said.
Levine described Collins as a “lovely, bright and energetic” woman.
“She had a lot of enthusiasm for life,” Levine said. “I can”t believe this happened.”
Gordon, an interior designer and longtime friend, said Collins was dedicated to running a successful store that made people feel positive about sex.
Collins was “straightforward, and very loyal and committed to her friendships,” Gordon said.
Many of Collins” loved ones gathered late into the night Monday at one of Collins” favorite hangouts, the Red Room bar, to remember her.
Christine Brooks, a friend of seven years who served as officiant at the couple”s wedding at Quail Hollow Ranch, said Collins was “the most honest person I”ve ever known in my entire life.” The couple marked their fourth anniversary on May 3.
“She could tell me things that I couldn”t hear from other people, and that was extraordinary,” Brooks said.
Downtown on Tuesday, several people placed bouquets of flowers at the front door of the Camouflage. A handwritten sign apologized for the closure and said it was due to a family emergency.
Catherine Segurson, who was downtown installing an art show at Pacific Trading Co., said she was shocked to hear from a friend what had happened.
“Everybody knows her; it”s such a fun and popular store,” Segurson said. “What a random, terrible thing.”
Ivan Avalos, who works in the framing shop at the back of neighboring Paper Vision, said he saw Collins Monday morning.
“She came in every morning about 8 or 8:30,” he said. “She was always nice and said hello. Poor girl. That is really sad.”
Kathryn Cunningham, who works at Dell Williams Jewelers, said the downtown business community was stunned to hear the news of Collins” violent death.
“It”s really sad, and I think the randomness is what is so scary,” Cunningham said.
FUTURE WORRIES
Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend called the slaying a “senseless” attack.
“As a community we need to work to ensure events like this never happen again,” he said.
Clark, the deputy police chief, said police and residents of the Lower Ocean neighborhood have worked for years to rid the area of its crime problems.
“Although (Monday”s) events were unfortunate, we know that it was an isolated incident,” Clark said. “There is no residual danger.”
Clark said a mental health outreach worker employed by the city routinely tries to identify transients who may need mental health services.
“This kind of attack was not something that anyone could protect themselves against,” he said. “There was no rhyme or reason to it.
“We always ask neighbors to report suspicious activity no matter what neighborhood they live in.”
Analicia Cube, founder of Take Back Santa Cruz, a grassroots public safety advocacy group, said members are planning an awareness event in coming days.
Cube said news of the attack was particularly hard to stomach, coming just a day after widespread vandalism at Holy Cross Church, where she attends services.
“Right now, our main reaction needs to be of grief and sadness,” she said. “We need to do that first and let the police finish their investigation and be respectful of the family. After that we are going to figure out what could have been done to change this outcome.
“I want our leadership to send a message that we are not a dumping ground. We are not a place to come to rob, do drugs and violent crimes.”
Santa Cruz police ask anyone with information to call the anonymous tip line at 420-5995 or leave a tip at santacruzpolice.com or by the mobile application at m.santacruzpolice.com
Follow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter on Twitter @sbaxter_sc
2012 HOMICIDES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
MARCH 1: Nathan Connally, 19, was shot about 2:30 a.m. near Dover and Soquel drives in Live Oak. He stumbled to an apartment at 2500 Soquel Drive and died there minutes later, according to sheriff”s deputies. Authorities released a surveillance video that showed Connally walking with another man before the shooting. That man, who has not been identified, is not a suspect in the case. Deputies have not said what motivated the shooting. No one has been arrested. Connally lived in Santa Cruz.
MARCH 31: Brandon Gil, 21, was attacked about 10 p.m. outside a sports bar on the 500 block of Main Street in Watsonville. Gil and a friend were stabbed. Gil died in a hospital hours later. The friend survived. Police said the attack likely was gang motivated. No suspects have been arrested.
APRIL 3: Rafael Cendejas, 42, was shot around 6 p.m. as he was mowing his neighbor”s lawn in Watsonville. A man got out of a car, fired shots at him and fled in the car. Cendejas was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff”s Office has not said what motivated the shooting. No suspects have been arrested.
MAY 7: Shannon Kathleen Collins, 38, owner of Camouflage on Pacific Avenue was stabbed to death on the 300 block of Broadway in Santa Cruz about 11:50 a.m. After neighbors called 911, Charles Anthony Edwards III was arrested on suspicion of homicide a few blocks from the scene. Edwards was wearing bloody clothing. A knife was found at the scene. Edwards, 43, is a convicted felon from San Francisco. Police said Collins and Edwards did not know each other. Authorities called the attack random and unprovoked and have not elaborated on the motive.
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Editor”s note: An earlier version of this article included incorrect information about where Collins was going at the time of the stabbing. This version has been updated to indicate that she was walking from home to a hair appointment.
