PHOENIX — Lavigne's business was completely destroyed Friday by a man who broke into Sunshine Sunflower Studios. Community members are now coming together to help repair the damage to the art studio.
Owner Laurie Canfield and her husband said they received a call from a neighbor early Friday morning saying their well water was out.
Canfield said that's because a man broke into her store and turned on all the outdoor water sources.
“[Our neighbor] She called me a few minutes later and said someone was at your house,” Canfield said. “Her husband got out of the truck and yelled towards her house. Then her husband came out wearing my T-shirt.”
The premises was in disarray with spray paint all over the walls in every room and floor, bedroom closet doors ripped out, drywall smashed, and stoves running at full capacity.
“He was plugged in. He had all the burners on,” Canfield said.
Canfield said she has seen an overwhelming amount of support since the break-in.
“A lot of my friends came over and offered to help me clean, paint, whatever,” Canfield said.
Community members and other local business owners donated thousands of dollars to the fundraising page and even offered to paint the mural over spray paint.
“Words cannot express my gratitude,” Canfield said.
The owner of the local Amadio Ranch Heritage Farm also donated to the restoration effort and called on other local Lavigne businesses to pitch in as well.
“One of the things we can do is when something like this happens to each other, we can at least help them recover,” Amadio said. “I am so proud of how the South Mountain community has come together and supported us during this difficult time, as we all go through it from time to time.”
Canfield estimates the damage at between $80,000 and $10,000. She considers herself lucky.
“I think we're fortunate that no one was hurt,” Canfield said.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Tyrone Taylor-Whitfield gained entry through a window. He is currently in custody.