San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Wednesday afternoon police are now convinced a man seen by surveillance cameras is responsible for killing two homeless men and seriously injuring two others.
“We believe that he is the person responsible for committing these terrible crimes,” said Zimmerman at an afternoon press conference.
A transient was set on fire in downtown San Diego on Wednesday morning in the fourth in a series of attacks on homeless men that have left two dead and a third severely injured.
Zimmerman said the attacks are “some of the worst that I have seen in 34 years of law enforcement.”
Police released enhanced photos of the suspect and said his attire may be key to his identification. They described the suspect as “extermely dangerous.”
The body of the first victim, 53-year-old Angelo De Nardo of San Diego, was found in flames in an open area off the 2700 block of Morena Boulevard shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses told investigators they saw a man running across nearby Interstate 5, carrying a gas can.
A second homeless man was found bleeding from stab wounds to his upper body in the 3700 block of Greenwood Street, near Valley View Casino Center in the Midway district, shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
Less than 90 minutes later, another transient was found dead in the 2500 block of Bacon Street — about three miles from the scene of the second attack.
Surveillance cameras at a convenience store near where the first victim was found captured grainy video of a man that police now say is the suspect.
In the video footage, the dark-haired suspect, who appears to be in his 20s or 30s, is wearing dark gloves, light-colored pants, a backpack, a brown long-sleeved shirt or jacket over a dark undershirt, and a green short-billed Greek fisherman-style cap.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer joined Zimmerman at Wednesday’s press conference and vowed that the hunt for the killer was the top priority for the city.
“Our city has been shaken by these gruesome attacks,” Faulconer said. “The last few days have been particularly harrowing and emotional for those who struggle with homelessness.”
“The San Diego Police Department is working around the clock to find this killer,” he added. “All resources are being brought to bear.”
Anyone with information about the suspect was asked to call police at (619) 531-2293. Anonymous tips can be submitted to San Diego Crime Stoppers by calling (888) 580-8477 or emailing sdcrimestoppers.org.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in these cases.
