A Vermont homeless shelter where police say a resident killed the coordinator using an ax and a knife last week will be closed for the rest of the month as staff take three weeks off to grieve the loss of their co-worker, an official said.
Zaaina Mahvish-Jammeh, 38, pleaded not guilty last Tuesday to killing Leah Rosin-Pritchard, 36, on April 3, at Morningside House in front of co-workers. The judge ordered a mental health evaluation for Mahvish-Jammeh.
"It is clear that our entire staff needs a pause in order to come together to grieve, work together toward healing, and figure out our way forward," said Josh Davis, executive director of Groundworks Collaborative, which operates the shelter.
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Overnight shelter clients have been moved into motels for the three-week period, funded by the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, Davis said in a statement. Groundworks is working together with community partners to cover other services, he said.
A candlelight vigil was held for Rosin-Pritchard on Friday night in Brattleboro, the Brattleboro Reformer reported.
The lawyer for Mahvish-Jammeh declined to comment last week.
