A witness who didn’t want to be identified described part of the attack to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Court records and news reports connect a man with the same name and age to a 2010 attack when a homeless man was set on fire while he slept.
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San Diego authorities have said they’d like to question him about his possible connection with the attacks.
SAN DIEGO, CA (KSWB/CNN) – Police are searching for the suspect who set a homeless man on fire in downtown San Diego early Wednesday. Nisleit said Thursday that police believe Padgett is on that video. He was said to have a thin build and apparently wore a hoodie and dark jeans.
Since Sunday, two transients have been killed and two others hospitalized – one of whom is in grave condition and is not expected to survive, according to San Diego police.
An attack on a homeless man found dead in a park – one where Scott Eldridge frequently sleeps – was the third one in 24 hours in the city.
One homeless man in the city told ABC affiliate KGTV that he and his friends “came up with an idea of actually sleeping in shifts”. Three of the victims were sleeping when they were attacked; two were set on fire, one after he was dead.
An unidentified assailant is suspected of attacking four homeless men over a four-day period.
Early Monday morning, investigators located two more victims in different locations with severe trauma and burns to the torso.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer reiterated the push to stop the “reprehensible” attacks, and encouraged the public to report any tips or relevant information to the authorities. “The last few days have been particularly harrowing and emotional for those who struggle with homelessness. These crimes are being committed against some of our city’s most vulnerable people”.
On Wednesday, the San Diego Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team branched out to advise the area’s homeless population about the increasing number of assaults on homeless individuals.
Capt. David Nisleit declined to speak in detail about why police believe the attacks are connected but mentioned the way they were carried out and witness interviews.
Homicide detectives have asked anyone with information about the attacks to call police at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477. “I can not go into detail why we say that, but we’re quite confident this is the same person responsible for all”.
And on Wednesday, a 23-year-old man was discovered sleeping under a burning towel around 5 a.m., Nisleit reportedly said at the press conference. He looked outside and saw a man spray something onto what he thought was a blanket on the ground before lighting it on fire.
The young victim is not expected to survive his injuries.
On Monday, police responding to a 911 call found 61-year-old Manuel Mason, who suffered life-threatening injuries to his upper torso and remained in critical condition Wednesday. Just over an hour later at 6:10 a.m., the body of 41-year-old Shawn Longley was discovered in the 2500 block of Bacon Street.
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Padgett is believed by investigators to be the suspect seen in surveillance video buying gasoline shortly before the body of a slain homeless man was set ablaze on Sunday, Nisleit told reporters. Itzcoatl Ocampo, 25, was charged in 2012 but died in jail before trial. Several of his victims were stabbed.
