Los Angeles authorities believe a serial killer may be in their midst after three homeless men were gunned down recently in different parts of the city, KTLA-TV reports.
On Friday, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said it appears one person is responsible for the deaths of the victims, who were shot while they slept in the early morning hours.
“We believe a single individual approached each one and shot and killed each one as they slept,” Moore said, according to KABC-TV.
All the killings occurred in open areas. The first murder was around 3 a.m. this past Sunday in an alley in southeast LA, where 37-year-old Jose Vamos was fatally shot.
The following day, 62-year-old Mark Digs was shot and killed around 4:55 a.m. along a wall on East Seventh Street.
Then around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 52-year-old man whose identity has not been released was shot and killed near South Avenue 18 and Pasadena Avenue.
Police released surveillance images depicting a man in a light-colored hoodie they believe is the shooter. An image of a vehicle was also released.
LAPD investigators have formed a task force to find the gunman.
“We’re bringing homicide investigators from throughout the city,” Moore said, according to CBS News. “We’re bringing additional investigators from specialized posts and we have placed our forensic science division on ready so that any forensic evidence that is gathered is also quickly processed and analyzed in an effort to identify the person we believe responsible for these three homicides.”
Task force members are also working with surrounding communities to look for similar crimes. Although there are no recent unsolved homicides in the adjacent cities, there may be other shooting victims.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern for residents who are living on the streets and she urged families and friends of the unhoused to contact them. The city has established temporary winter shelters so unhoused residents can sleep safely.
“Our message to the unhoused community is clear: do not sleep alone tonight. Seek shelter, seek services, stay together, seek support and we need your help to get the word out,” Bass said in a press release.
Bass also told the killer they will be brought to justice.
“I want to be very clear about what we’re facing today: This is a killer who is preying on the unhoused,” she said, according to CBS News. “To the person responsible, we will find you, we will catch you and you will be held accountable.”
To report information about the case, call the LAPD at 213-486-6890.
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[Feature Photo: LAPD]
