Former New York homeless shelter resident ‘tried to rape facility’s manager and shot her dead as she fled naked’

"She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others," the shelter said of Ana

Ann Charle, 36, who was shot dead in the Bronx on Monday (Facebook )

The former resident of a New York homeless shelter allegedly murdered the manager of the facility, after he sexually assaulted her at gun point and shot her as she fled the scene naked, police have said.

Officers have charged West Spruill, 39, with murder, after Ana Charle, 36, was killed on Monday evening in the Bronx.

Ms Charle, a mother of two originally from Barcelona, Spain, was walking to her car in the 108-bed Project Renewal Shelter at around 6pm, when Spruill allegedly sexually assaulted her in her car.

As Ms Charle fled naked from the car, police say an also unclothed Spruill shot her three times in the head and chest on Bullard Avenue, near the shelter she ran.

Spruill then put his clothes back on and walked away, witnesses told police according to the New York Times.

Police arrested Spruill shortly after at a car wash, and charged him with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. An autopsy carried out on Ms Charle’s body will soon reveal whether the woman was raped.

A police officer told the New York Times that Spruill shot Ms Charle at “close range”.

“This is as bad a homicide as I’ve seen,” the official said.

West Spruill, who has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon (Michigan Department of Correction)

The suspected attacker had lived at the shelter since last June and moved out in January, the New York Daily News reported. Spruill has six prior arrests, including for attempted murder, and served time in Michigan for assault with a deadly weapon.

Tributes to Ms Charle have poured in following her brutal killing.

Project Renewal Shelter wrote on its Facebook page: "Tragically, Ana Charle, Director of the Bronx Blvd. Shelter, was murdered yesterday.

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to Ana's entire family. Ana was a dedicated, wonderful, and loving person.

"She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. Ana exemplified the very best of Project Renewal and we are heartbroken by this senseless and tragic loss."

The city's Department of Homeless Services also released a heartfelt statement saying it was "deeply saddenened" by Ms Charle's death.

Wanda L. Rijo, 44, who works as the clinical director at the shelter described Ms Charle as “my best friend”, and said she was a caring person with two young daughters, aged 9 and 11.

Gary Alcendor, her former boyfriend, mirrored her sentiment and told the New York Post: “She lived for people, had a great heart.

“She lived for people, had a great heart,' said 'She lived mainly for her two kids," he said.