News / Northwest

‘We don’t even know her, and we feel so bad:’ Friends and customers remember Kelso store clerk

By Alex Bruell, The Daily News

Published: January 23, 2019, 6:42am

2 Photos

The man suspected of fatally shooting an employee during a robbery at Holt's Quik Chek in Kelso. (Kelso Police) Photo Gallery

KELSO — Kayla Chapman, the Kelso convenience-store clerk whom police say was gunned down at work Tuesday morning during a robbery attempt, was a kind person who was “always smiling,” according to her friends and customers at Holt’s Market.

Amy Zinter, a Kelso woman, said she and her 10-year-old daughter AnnElena live near the store and often shop there. Zinter said she gave AnnElana an allowance to teach her about money, and Chapman would always be patient with her and help teach her how to count up her savings.

Chapman, 30, “was always patient and kind with her,” Zinter said.

“She always took the time to help AnnElena. They both color their hair and loved to talk about that, too. … She always smiled when AnnElena came in. She always acknowledged her.”

Zinter was one of many who had a story about a time they walked into Holt’s and ran into Chapman. On social media and to reporters, dozens of people recalled small encounters with Chapman, who was often remembered for being a friendly and upbeat face or for staying patient with difficult customers.

Candles and flowers adorned the sidewalk next to the gas station where Chapman died, and well into Tuesday afternoon people were still dropping more off in the pouring rain.

Chapman was always ready with a smile and a joke when Kelso residents Alicia Jordan and Seth Carns came into the store, the two said as they lit candles for her with their 2-year-old, Aspen Carns.

“We don’t even know her, and we feel so bad,” Seth Carns said.

A woman who only identified herself as a friend of Chapman said she “was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” She added that Chapman “greeted the homeless people like they were anybody else. … It’s devastating. I still can’t wrap my head around it.”

She said the robbery came as a surprise to a small community in which such crimes are infrequent.

Will Rollet, who said he was a friend of Chapman, told reporters that she was “always there to help someone.”

“She was outspoken,” he said. “She was one of the nicest people I had ever met.”

“She was a sweetheart,” said Jose Padron, who lives in the neighborhood around the store. “It’s just tragic. … Every time you’d speak to her, she was a very kind person, always smiling. I can’t stop thinking about it this morning. It (was) all over money. … It’s just ridiculous.”

Padron said he thought the victim had worked at Holt’s for a few years, but it seemed like he knew her for a long time because of her “bubbly” personality.

Chapman was married, according to her Facebook profile. She was on the honor roll during her final year at Kalama High School, according to Daily News records, and played Polonius (a male part) in a Kalama Elementary School rendition of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

The last post shared on Chapman’s Facebook profile was the contact number for a veterans’ suicide hotline.

“Just like you to think of others before you unknowingly took your last breath on Earth,” a friend commented under the post.

A candlelight vigil Tuesday night drew about thirty to forty people, who shared a moment of silence in memory of Chapman.

Through police, Chapman’s family members said they are declining to speak with the media at this time.

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