Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – Police in DC and New York City are investigating a series of attacks on homeless men in both cities that authorities believe are connected.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser released a joint statement on Sunday night that called the suspect in at least five attacks a “cold-blooded killer,” WPIX reported.
“Our communities in D.C. and New York City are heartbroken and disturbed by these heinous crimes in which an individual has been targeting some of our most vulnerable residents,” the statement read. “The two of us spoke about how our teams can coordinate and help one another, and we are calling on everyone in our cities to look at the images of the suspect and report any information, however small, that may be useful.”
“The work to get this individual off our streets before he hurts or murders another individual is urgent,” the mayors continued. “The rise in gun violence has shaken all of us and it is particularly horrible to know that someone is out there deliberately doing harm to an already vulnerable population.”
Then Adams and Bowser called on homeless residents of both cities “to seek shelter” and warned them “we now have a cold-blooded killer on the loose,” WPIX reported.
A joint investigation with @NYPDnews leads to a suspect sought in at least 5 shooting incidents involving homeless victims in DC & NYC. Both departments are investigating these incidents jointly, along with our partnership with @ATFHQ.
Release: https://t.co/d6TERejwow pic.twitter.com/niJagm34LL
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 14, 2022
Authorities said three homeless men were attacked on March 3, March 8, and March 9 in the nation’s capital.
Two of the men were shot but survived their wounds, WPIX reported.
Officials said the third victim was shot and stabbed to death before being set on fire.
Two victims were shot a few blocks from each other about an hour apart on Saturday morning in the Big Apple, WPIX reported.
One of the New York City victims died.
Police said both attacks were unprovoked and committed against men asleep in sleeping bags, WPIX reported.
Investigators in both cities have released pictures of the man they believe to be the suspect in all of the attacks, which they said had multiple similarities.
The man was wearing a hood and mask in the New York City images, but his face is visible in the surveillance video captured in DC, NBC News reported.
A third possible victim in Manhattan was found dead in a sleeping bag at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday night near Greenwich and Murray Streets, WPIX reported.
Police said the man had suffered two puncture wounds to his body.
Officials said on Monday morning that the third attack had not yet been officially connected to the others and police were still investigating, WPIX reported.
DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert Contee and New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell also put out a joint statement that said their agencies were working together and outlined more details of the attacks, FOX News reported.
MPD and NYPD have also partnered with federal law enforcement, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), to track down the suspect believed responsible for the attacks on sleeping homeless men in both cities.
“Our Washington and New York City field offices have been working hand-in-hand with the DC metropolitan police and the New York Police Department from the outset,” ATF Director Marvin Richardson said in a statement. “One of these shootings occurred within blocks of our Washington DC headquarters. We have used our advanced ATF systems to conduct real-time analysis backed up by our ATF National Lab in Maryland to expedite the evidence and assist in the investigations and [sic] Washington DC and New York City.”
“Our three agencies are one team,” Director Marvin added.
Holly Matkin
