Homeless woman kills shelter coordinator with ax in front of staff, Vermont police say

A Vermont judge has ordered a psychiatric evaluation of a homeless shelter resident accused of murdering a shelter coordinator with an ax and knife in front of frightened employees.

Police say Zaina Mahvish-Jammeh, 38, bought an ax at a hardware store before requesting a meeting with the shelter coordinator and repeatedly beat the victim with the ax in the shelter’s living room. It says. She did not plead guilty to murder on Tuesday, the day after the attack, and she remains in jail.

Leah Rosin-Pritchard, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene of Morningside House, operated by Groundworks Collaborative, with injuries to her face, neck and torso, police said. Mahvish Jammeh used his 18-inch-handled ax and knife to attack, police said.

Cops saw Mahvish Jammeh wiping the blood off his hands with paper towels on CBS affiliate WPRI-TV reportciting court documents.

Groundworks Collaborative, the organization that operates the facility, said in a Facebook statement That Rosin-Pritchard is “irreplaceable.”

“She was an amazingly strong, positive, beautiful and caring person who generously offered her spirit and skills to support all of Morningside House’s residents and her professional colleagues.” the organization said.

She worked as a volleyball coach, cooking instructor and social worker in Rhode Island before moving to Vermont to become the coordinator of Morningside House, sources said.

“By starting my second career in social work, I believe I can put into practice everything I have learned and integrate my skills into a space where I can contribute to the community,” she said. LinkedIn biography read.

Rosin-Pritchard graduated from Rhode Island College in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in social work, WPRI reports. She spent time as an intern at her Amos House and Izzy Foundation.

“He’s literally a selfless soul trying to help others,” Izzie Foundation executive director Carla Mullhan told the station.

Mahvish-Jammeh lived in the house for months and the attack was captured on security video. In her statement, Groundworks said, “There are no words to express the depth of loss felt by her Groundworks teammates and residents.

David Sleigh, an attorney for Mahvish-Jammeh, declined to comment on Thursday.