The defendant was stabbing the mother of a toddler in a 2014 attempted robbery when Troy Cansler intervened and wound up dead
Judge Ronald Christianson sentenced a Yucaipa man to life in prison without parole Friday for what he called the “senseless tragedy” of the defendant’s actions that caused the wounding of the mother of a toddler and the death of the good Samaritan who came to her aid in 2014.
“You have devastated the lives of his family and friends,” the judge told Vincent Alex DeLeon.
Christianson said DeLeon should reflect “on how in the span of a few fleeting moments he caused such pain and suffering.”
DeLeon, 28, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder one day short of the two-year anniversary of the April 27, 2014, stabbing death of ironworker Troy Shewmaker Cansler, 47, of Yucaipa. The jury took less than a day to reach verdicts in April.
Cansler had intervened when he saw DeLeon stabbing Krystina Hanrahan, who was about to unload her groceries into her car trunk outside the Stater Bros. market in the 34500 block of Yucaipa Boulevard, with her then-2-year-old daughter in the shopping cart.
DeLeon was convicted of attempted murder of Hanrahan. The jury also found a sentencing enhancement against DeLeon for committing the crime during a robbery.
In a victim impact statement, Hanrahan called DeLeon selfish and evil and said the incident has affected the way she looks at people: “Now I look at people like they are capable of doing something to anyone.” Instead of assuming the bad, she said, she is trying to look for some good in people.
Hanrahan called Cansler, the good Samaritan, “a true selfless man and a hero.”
Cansler’s daughter, Jordyn Glazier, 14, said she tries to be strong and keep weakness to herself.
“No kid should have to experience this kind of loss,” she said.
Cansler’s mother, Kandie Shewmaker Cansler, said she will always remember her son’s crooked half smile, his love of gold dredging and how he was a “solid rock” for his daughter.
The family has experienced other losses and broken hearts, but, she said, “We know you pick up the pieces and you live your life as best as you can.”
Against the advice of his attorney, DeLeon said, “I really don’t have a memory of that night.”
He told the family members in the audience that he was “sorry you are hurting” and said he had no explanation for what happened.
Hanrahan had been to dinner in Yucaipa with family members that night and stopped for groceries en route to her Cherry Valley home.