A San Francisco college student and cyclist was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack at a California train station after courageously stepping in to protect a mother and her children from a knife-wielding maniac, according to court records.
Colden Kimber, 28, was waiting at the Ingleside Muni stop on July 26 with his girlfriend when he witnessed a man harassing a family. Without hesitation, he positioned himself between the family and the aggressor—Sean Collins, 29—only to be brutally stabbed in the neck, police said.
“Oh, you think you are better than me? You are scared of me,” Collins reportedly yelled at the family before launching the attack, according to court documents obtained by KGO.
“Completely Unprovoked Attack”
Kimber was glancing toward an approaching train when Collins allegedly plunged a six-inch blade into his neck, severing vital arteries. The New York native, described by family as a gentle giant, collapsed as blood poured from the wound.
Emergency responders rushed him to San Francisco General Hospital, but he later died during surgery.
“There is no making sense of this and no words to convey the devastation we are feeling,” his grieving mother, Lara Litchfield-Kimber, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $91,000.
A Life of Courage and Compassion
Kimber, a San Francisco State University kinesiology student, had worked at American Cyclery for three years, building and repairing bikes. Friends and co-workers described him as a kind, uplifting presence who was passionate about cycling and protecting others.
“He was totally irreplaceable,” said Bradley Woehl, owner of American Cyclery.
“He lived such an exemplary life… a good influence on my life and everyone around him.”
Kimber’s love for cycling began when he stepped in to compete in a New York triathlon in place of his mother, who was battling breast cancer at the time.
“He had never ridden a bike on a road,” she recalled, adding that “the bikes were the things that stuck.”
Locals often joked about “Colden sightings” because he was always on his bike, riding around San Francisco.
Suspect Arrested, Charged with Murder
Sean Collins, described as bloodstained and disoriented, was found just blocks from the scene and arrested. Authorities say the stabbing was captured on surveillance footage.
Collins has been charged with murder and is set to appear in court for arraignment on August 14.
Community Honors a Hero
A memorial ride in Kimber’s honor is scheduled for September 7, allowing fellow cyclists, friends, and community members to pay tribute to a man whose final act was pure selflessness.
As San Francisco continues to struggle with rising crime and mental health-related violence, Kimber’s death underscores what’s at stake when law-abiding citizens are left to confront danger alone.
“He had this protective thing about him,” his mother said.
“He was my only child… and a true hero.”
