Los Angeles authorities warned homeless people to “don't sleep alone” after three who died in four days were potentially victims of the same suspect police were reluctant to call a “serial killer.”
(Video: KTLA)
Hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) tried to smile his way out of addressing the ravages of crime during his debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (D), City of Angels officials gathered Friday to address a threat that posed. on the considerable homeless population.
During a news conference with Mayor Karen Bass (D), District Attorney George Gascón (D), Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore and others, three killings between Sunday and Wednesday were attributed to ” a single individual”.
“The common denominator of these homicides is that each of the victims was in an open area, whether it was a sidewalk or an alley. They were alone,” Moore explained, while police had yet to conclude “whether these homicides are related”.
Police reports detailed that the first victim was a 37-year-old man killed just after 3 a.m. Sunday, the second a 62-year-old man killed just over a day later before the third, a 52-year-old man. killed around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday
“We believe a single individual approached each of them and shot and killed them while they were sleeping,” the police chief said. “There are similarities in each of the three cases.”
As investigators continued to search for the suspect, releasing an image of a hooded man and a vehicle captured on surveillance footage, they did not shy away from attributing a motive, as Bass stated: “I want to be very clear about what we're up against today. : This is an assassin that preys on those who are not housed.
“Our message to the unhoused community is clear: Don't sleep alone tonight,” Bass said. “Seek shelter, seek services, stay together, seek support.”
“These are individuals, not camps, who are being preyed upon,” he said.
Similarly, the LA Homeless Services Authority released a statement saying, “The LAPD has announced that they suspect a serial killer is targeting homeless people who are sleeping alone and without shelter. Any person who is homeless, please pair up with someone else, find shelter, and if you have to sleep outside, don't sleep alone.”
The LAPD has announced that it suspects a serial killer is targeting homeless people who are sleeping alone and without shelter. Anyone who is homeless, please pair up with someone else, find shelter, and if you have to sleep outside, don't sleep alone. pic.twitter.com/XXjO2HAyQy
— LA Homeless Services Authority (@LAHomeless) December 2, 2023
As part of the response that included issuing a community safety bulletin that further encouraged the use of shelters, maintained surveillance and contacted authorities about suspicious activity, the city announced an increased program of winter shelters from December 1-4 to establish create temporary shelters that included motel beds.
Also, please read this important Community Safety Bulletin from the LAPD Office of Homelessness Coordination. pic.twitter.com/HJw1yzbudT
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) December 2, 2023
It should be noted that the homicides had similarity to the arrest of Gerald Brevard III that had been arrested in March 2022 and charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting five homeless men in New York City and Washington, DC, two of whom died of their wounds.
Brevard was accused in September on 17 charges related solely to the three DC attacks that killed 54-year-old Morgan Holmes.
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