A man suspected in the killing of a woman inside a Midway District adult bookstore has been arrested, the San Diego Police Department said Tuesday.
Shaun Ward, 39, was identified as the suspect in the stabbing death of 65-year-old Diane Spagnuolo of El Cajon, who managed the X-Spot adult store on Midway Drive near Kemper Street, SDPD said.
A customer found Spagnuolo dead with trauma to her upper body at around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, SDPD said. Police believed she was assaulted and launched a homicide investigation.
Hours after the stabbing, SDPD released surveillance photos that showed a man believed to be the suspect wearing navy blue shirt and pants and carrying a blue backpack.
Ward was arrested sometime on Monday but the details surrounding his arrest were not known.
The motive for the stabbing was not clear.
John Paul, who worked at the adult store with Spagnuolo, said he was in his office when the woman was killed. He said he didn't hear anything.
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"I'm just still shocked," Paul told NBC 7. "It's kind of hard to believe, it leaves you a very uneasy feeling because I work here every day."
Paul said his co-worker may have been there for a while until she was discovered.
No weapons were found at the scene.
Albert Hermiz works at a next-door liquor store and says he got to know Spagnuolovery well over the last three years. He said the woman has worked at the adult store for decades.
He described her as a very nice woman who would often help the homeless in the neighborhood.
SDPD Homicide Detectives are investigating. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
