A 28-year-old cyclist was fatally stabbed after bravely stepping in to protect a terrified mother and her children from a knife-wielding man at a San Francisco train stop — a selfless act that cost him his life but revealed the depth of his courage and compassion.

In a tragic act of courage that stunned an entire city, 28-year-old Colden Kimber lost his life on July 26 while shielding a terrified mother and her children from a knife-wielding attacker at a Muni train stop in San Francisco’s Ingleside neighborhood.

The young man, a New York native known for his gentle spirit and towering 6-foot-4 frame, was on his way home from a casual lunch with his girlfriend when he was thrust into a horrifying and unprovoked confrontation that would end in bloodshed.

According to court documents and witness accounts, the nightmare began when a man later identified as 29-year-old Sean Collins approached a woman and her two young children at the transit station and began screaming threats in an unhinged rant.

“Oh, you think you are better than me,” Collins allegedly shouted. “You are scared of me.”

What happened next has been called nothing short of heroic. Kimber, seeing the fear on the mother’s face, calmly placed himself between the family and the enraged man.

As he turned to glance toward the arriving train—likely expecting help or simply preparing to guide the family to safety—Collins lunged forward with a six-inch blade, plunging it into Colden’s neck in what police described as a “completely and utterly unprovoked attack.”

Emergency responders rushed Kimber to San Francisco General Hospital. He underwent emergency surgery but tragically succumbed to his wounds.

The loss devastated his family, friends, and the local cycling community, where he had become a well-loved figure through his work at American Cyclery and his commitment to the sport.

Colden’s mother, Lara Litchfield-Kimber, created a GoFundMe page in the wake of his death, writing with aching clarity, “There is no making sense of this and no words to convey the devastation we are feeling.”

The fundraiser quickly surpassed \$91,000, a testament to how deeply Colden had touched the lives of those around him.

In a heart-wrenching interview, she shared memories of her son’s quiet strength and kind heart.

“He had this protective thing about him,” she said, noting he had earned the nickname “country moose” for his mix of size and gentle demeanor. “He wasn’t flashy. But when people needed help, Colden would be the first one to stand up.”

Indeed, Colden’s commitment to helping others had defined his life. He was studying kinesiology at San Francisco State University with plans to become a physical therapist, inspired in part by watching his mother battle breast cancer.

His passion for biking began when he spontaneously entered the New York Triathlon in her place after her illness forced her to withdraw. “He had never ridden a bike on a road,” his mother recalled, “but he just jumped in. That’s who he was.”

Colden’s legacy at American Cyclery, where he spent the past three years repairing and building bikes, was similarly profound. Store owner Bradley Woehl remembered him as “totally irreplaceable” both as a colleague and as a friend.

“He was a very positive influence on myself and my staff,” Woehl said. “I’m going to miss him for his good nature and his kind spirit. He really lived such an exemplary life.”

The horrific attack was captured on nearby surveillance cameras, which also helped police quickly identify and apprehend the suspect. Collins, whose clothes were stained with blood, was arrested just blocks away from the crime scene and charged with murder.

Officials have not publicly confirmed whether Collins has a history of mental illness, though his erratic behavior at the scene and previous reports suggest a pattern of instability.

In the days following the tragedy, tributes to Kimber poured in across social media and from within the Bay Area’s cycling community.

Riders organized a silent ride in his memory, and his bike—recovered from the scene—was placed at the transit stop, adorned with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes of gratitude and sorrow.

Perhaps the most haunting part of Colden Kimber’s story is how it captures both the fragility of life and the rare strength of a person willing to put others first without hesitation.

In a city often grappling with stories of violence and fear, his actions offered a glimmer of humanity that will not be forgotten.

“He stepped forward so they could live,” one of his friends wrote. “That’s the kind of man Colden was. And the world is less without him.”