Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News :
Keep up with LAist.
If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Every weekday, you’ll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news.
Three homeless men were tragically shot and killed this week in different areas of Los Angeles while they were sleeping alone, as announced by officials on Friday. As a result, local and federal authorities are now working tirelessly to locate and apprehend the person they believe to be responsible.
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 occurred around 4:45 a.m. on Monday in the Arts District of downtown L.A., and the victim has been identified as a 62-year-old man. The third shooting took place at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the Lincoln Heights Industrial Zone near Elysian Park, and the victim was a 52-year-old man who was sleeping on the sidewalk. LAPD Chief Michel Moore stated that all three victims were alone in open areas, such as sidewalks or alleys, when they were shot and killed in their sleep.
Authorities are cautioning that the suspect, who they believe to be responsible, could strike anywhere in Los Angeles. LAPD Chief Moore emphasized during a news conference on Friday that there is no specific area that should be considered safe.
Although there are currently no eyewitnesses, the LAPD believes the suspect is a man wearing some type 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 in the vehicle.
Law enforcement agencies have collected physical evidence, as well as video and images from the crime scenes. The LAPD has released photos of the person they believe to be responsible and the vehicle seen at each location.
Mayor Karen Bass warned that the suspect is targeting the unhoused population and urged them to stay together, seek shelter, and not sleep alone. Outreach teams have been deployed to search for unhoused individuals who are alone, and Metro leadership has been instructed to warn unhoused people as they disembark from buses and trains at night.
The LAPD has increased patrols and established a 24/7 task force consisting of homicide investigators from various areas of the city. The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office has assigned an attorney to the case to facilitate the transition from the police investigation to the prosecution. The Victim Services Division is also providing support to the families of the victims, as well as any witnesses or individuals who may need assistance.
The federal government, the Department of Justice, and the FBI are actively supporting the investigation. Martin Estrada from the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that they are exploring the possibility of federal charges, such as civil rights violations.
Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to call the LAPD tip line at (213) 486-6890.
In the wake of these tragic incidents, the community is coming together to raise awareness and ensure the safety of the unhoused population. The city is working to open emergency shelters and provide a safe place for individuals to seek refuge from the streets at night. Residents are also being urged to reach out to their unhoused friends and family members to inform them about the danger and the available resources.