Six blocks of DeLand's North Woodland Boulevard was shut down while investigators processed the scene near Stetson University.

DELAND — A homeless man randomly stabbed and killed a homeless woman sleeping on a downtown bench early Wednesday because he thought the blanket covering her belonged to him, police said.

Jared Shaw, 32, was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and was treated under guard for a self-inflicted stab wound to the neck. He is charged with first-degree murder, said DeLand police Chief Jason Umberger.

[READ MORE: Death of homeless man known as “Shorty” treated as homicide]

[READ MORE: DeLand police seek suspect in stabbing of homeless man]

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. in front on the Bank of America at 230 N. Woodland Blvd., but after stabbing the victim, Christine McCaleb, 67, the suspect walked back and forth several blocks from the scene as far north as Stetson University's Flagler Hall, Umberger said.

Shaw left a trail of blood on the pavement, Umberger said.

Shaw flagged down a Volusia County sheriff's deputy on patrol by the 7-Eleven at 319 N. Woodland Blvd., the chief said.

A section of Woodland Boulevard from Church Street to Pennsylvania Avenue was shut down for several hours while detectives worked the scene and was reopened about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, the chief said.

"We do not think that they knew each other," Umberger said. "It was a random act of violence by this individual named Jared Shaw."

Police have had contact with Shaw before, including having taken him into custody under Florida's Baker Act law for mental evaluation, the chief said.

In speaking with police, Shaw made some sort of statement about a blanket that McCaleb was covered with, Umberger said.

"She was sleeping there on a bench and was violently assaulted by this person for really no reason other than we believe something about a blanket at this point," Umberger said. "He thought it was his blanket."

McCaleb suffered at least three stab wounds and died at the scene. Investigators recovered the knife, Umberger said.

An incident report states that police found McCaleb lying unconscious on the bench and observed one stab wound to the left side of her chest.

McCaleb was a homeless woman known to frequent Ormond Beach where she was known to police. DeLand police do not know how she ended up in DeLand, investigators said.

Shaw has been previously arrested for aggravated battery which was reduced to domestic violence battery and petty theft, Umberger said.

_____________