Staff of the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown remembered a co-worker senselessly murdered last week.
Shauna Haynes was found April 6 stuffed in a suitcase left near some trash bins behind an apartment complex near 7th Avenue and A Street.
To help Shauna’s grieving family, her "work-family" at the Old Spaghetti Factory held a fundraiser in her honor Thursday.
"For me she really meant, just outgoing, loving everyone, being happy, making sure everyone was good," friend and coworker Kelsea Lake told NBC 7.
The restaurant held the fundraiser from 5 to 10 p.m. giving 25% of all proceeds to Shauna’s family.
“Glad to help out any way we can,” patron Jan Hurlocker-Wicker said. “It's just sad someone so young can be dumped in an alley."
Investigators arrested a co-worker of Haynes in the crime but have not disclosed a motive.
Joshua Palmer, 32, is being held on $2 million bail while he faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Haynes’ death.
Prosecutors said the pair went to Palmer’s home where Palmer allegedly beat and strangled Haynes and then stuffed her body into a suitcase.
Palmer has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His attorney, San Diego County Deputy Public Defender Katie Belisle, said Haynes, Palmer and a group of people who worked together would socialize after work.
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"Mr. Palmer was a friend of Miss Haynes - not her murderer," Belisle said.
While the investigation continues, the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant is focused on supporting Haynes’ family and helping employees cope with her tragic death.
There is no word yet on how much money was raised.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case can call the SDPD’S Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
