BRONX — Coworkers of the homeless shelter director who was stalked and brutally murdered by a former resident of her facility Monday have rallied to support her daughters, raising money for them online.
A fundraising page started by Project Renewal, the shelter where Ana Charle worked, had already raised more than $5,000 by Friday afternoon for her children Daniela, 10, and Angela, 9.
"Her daughters were the absolute lights of her life," the fundraising page reads.
Charle, 36, was getting into her car after work near East 237th Street and Bullard Avenue on Monday when West Spruill, 39, attacked her about 5:50 p.m., an NYPD spokesman said.
Spruill, who had met Ana while he was a resident at the shelter in 2014, forced her at gunpoint into her car, made her strip, and then tried to rape her at gunpoint, police sources said. She resisted, fleeing naked into the street, with her attacker, who was also naked, close behind, sources said.
After Spruill caught up to her, he shot her at close range, three times, in the temple, cheek and chest, police source said.
Spruill was arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court on Wednesday on murder, manslaughter and weapons possession charges and held without bail. He was due back in court on Friday.
"Ana was a dedicated, wonderful, and loving person. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others," the page reads. "Ana exemplified the very best of Project Renewal and we are all completely heartbroken by this senseless and tragic loss."
On Monday Ana Charle, Director of the Bronx Blvd. Shelter, was murdered. We are heartbroken by this senseless and tragic...
Posted by Project Renewal on Friday, May 1, 2015
