Authorities in Los Angeles are searching for a suspect who shot and killed three unhoused men while they were sleeping. The victims were alone in open areas when they were attacked. The LAPD has shared photos of the suspect and the vehicle seen at each location. The city is urging unhoused people to seek shelter and not sleep alone. The investigation involves local and federal authorities, including the FBI. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD tip line. Makenna Sievertson reported
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Tragic news struck Los Angeles this week as three unhoused men were shot and killed in different parts of the city while they were sleeping alone. Local and federal authorities are now working tirelessly to track down the person believed to be responsible for these heinous acts.
The first shooting occurred at around 3:10 a.m. on Sunday in the Westmont neighborhood of South L.A. The victim, a 37-year-old man, was found in a rear alley. The second shooting took place at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Monday in the Arts District of downtown L.A. The victim, a 62-year-old man, was identified as the second victim. The third shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the Lincoln Heights Industrial Zone near Elysian Park. The victim, a 52-year-old man, was sleeping on the sidewalk when the incident occurred.
According to LAPD Chief Michel Moore, all three victims were alone in open areas like sidewalks or alleys when they were tragically shot and killed in their sleep. Authorities are warning that the suspect they are searching for could strike anywhere in Los Angeles, including Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, and the west side. The suspect is believed to be a man wearing some form of hoodie or simple clothing. In each of the shootings, the suspect arrives in a vehicle, approaches the victims on foot, shoots and kills them, and then flees the scene in the vehicle.
Law enforcement agencies have gathered physical evidence, as well as video and images from the crime scenes. The LAPD has released photos of the person they believe is responsible for the shootings, along with images of the vehicle seen at each location. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect and the car involved in these tragic incidents.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her concern, stating that “this is a killer who is preying on the unhoused.” In light of these events, authorities are urging unhoused individuals to stay together, seek shelter, and avoid sleeping alone. The Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority has activated its Augmented Winter Shelter Program from December 1st to December 4th, providing additional safety for unsheltered people who sleep alone. The emergency shelters, typically used for severe weather conditions, will now open to accommodate more individuals and get them off the streets at night.
Mayor Bass has also reached out to the leaders of the Housing Authority of Los Angeles and the L.A. Housing Department to spread the word within the community. Outreach teams have been deployed to search for unhoused individuals who are alone. Metro leadership has been notified to inform unhoused people as they disembark from buses and trains at night.
Residents who have unhoused friends or family in the L.A. area are urged to contact them immediately. They should inform them about the danger they face and advise them not to sleep alone, as shelters will be open and outreach workers will be available to assist them.
The LAPD has increased patrols and established a 24/7 task force comprising homicide investigators from across the city. The L.A. County District Attorney’s major crimes division is also involved, with an assigned attorney facilitating the transition from the police investigation to the prosecution stage. The Victim Services Division is providing support to the families of the victims, as well as any witnesses or individuals in need of assistance. The federal government, the Department of Justice, and the FBI are offering their support to the investigation, exploring the possibility of federal charges, such as civil rights statutes.
If you have any information about these shootings, please call the LAPD tip line at (213) 486-6890. We will keep you updated as this investigation unfolds. Stay safe and vigilant, and please reach out to anyone you know who may be affected by these tragic events..