A 39-year-old man has been charged with second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a Bronx homeless shelter director earlier this week. NY1 Rocco Vertuccio filed this report.

No one at the Project Renewal homeless shelter in the Bronxcan believe Ana Charle is gone.

"One day she was here. One day she's gone—in a blink of an eye. It's wrong. It's wrong," says resident Dario Rodriguez.

No one at the Project Renewal homeless shelter in the Bronx can believe Ana Charle is gone.

As the director of the city shelter, she was known for trying to improve the lives of others—a kind, loving and encouraging person.

"She was a great person.  She was full of life, yo. She was cool, like, she always looked out, yo, all the time.  She always treated me with respect," says resident King Classic.

Charle was shot to death about a block away from the shelter Monday night.

Police say 39-year-old West Spruill, an ex con and former resident of the shelter, returned to the facility Monday night, waited for Charle to come out, and then forced her to undress in her car on this street. Charle managed to break away but police say Spruill chased her down and shot her about five times, killing her.

Spruill dressed and ran to a nearby gas station, where he was nabbed by police.

He has an extensive criminal record, serving 11 years in prison for attempted murder. He's now charged with second degree murder.

In court Wednesday, Spruill screamed he didn't want an attorney, but he was assigned one.

"Everyone witnessed what I think will be some of the great difficulties proceeding along with my particular client," says court-appointed defense attorney Cesar Gonzalez.

Charle was from Spain and lived in Queens with her two children. No one can imagine the shelter without her.

Vertuccio: “What are you going to miss most about her?

Resident Edwin Cabeza: “Um her…We got to play handball last year. We went to the park, a group of us.”

In a statement Project Renewal said, "Ana was part of the Project Renewal family. She was a dedicated, wonderful, and loving person.  She went above and beyond in her work and put 110% into improving the lives of others. "

Spruill is being held without bail he is due back in court Friday. pruill is being held without bail he is due back in court Friday.