The Washington Metropolitan Police announced on Twitter on Tuesday morning that they have arrested a suspect sought for the shooting of various homeless people in New York City and Washington D.C. The news was also confirmed by the NYPD in a tweet on Tuesday.

 

The NYPD had been asking the public’s assistance identifying the man seen in the attached photos who is wanted for questioning in connection with two shooting incidents that occurred in Manhattan in the 1st and 5th precincts. The man is believed to be targeting homeless people who are sleeping on the street. Mayor Eric Adams appealed to New Yorkers to help identify the assailant.

 

On Saturday, March 12, at approximately 5 a.m., police observed a 38-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the right forearm on King Street between Varick Street and Avenue of the Americas. Police said a preliminary investigation determined the victim was sleeping at the location when the assailant approached him and shot him. The suspect later fled eastbound on King Street. EMS responded and transported the victim to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing.

 

ARRESTED: Early this AM, law enforcement arrested the suspect in Washington, DC. He is currently being interviewed at our Homicide Branch. Additional information will be forthcoming. Thanks to the community for all your tips. pic.twitter.com/lvFu3LeMTd

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 15, 2022

 

Later that day, at approximately 4.56 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of an aided person outside 148 Lafayette Street. Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious and unresponsive unidentified man inside a sleeping bag in front of the Howard Street entrance of the building. The man had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and neck. EMS responded and pronounced the man deceased at the scene.

 

Police said a preliminary video investigation determined that an unidentified man had approached the victim at approximately 6 a.m. before displaying a gun and shooting him. The assailant fled westbound on Howard Street. Again, there are no arrests at this time and the investigation remains ongoing.

HAPPENING NOW: @NYCMayor and @NYPDnews leadership brief the press on shootings in Lower Manhattan this morning:https://t.co/zeeeMV41ze

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 13, 2022

 

Norwood News recently reported on plans to extend shelter services to adult homeless men at 2287 University Avenue in the University Heights neighborhood, as well as issues with the PATH intake system at Bronx shelters, a system operated by the City’s Department of Homeless Services. More recently, we also reported on a recent assault on a homeless man at the Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter in Norwood.

 

On Sunday, March 13, Adams and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke about ongoing investigations by the NYPD and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia into the individual who is suspected of targeting and shooting men experiencing homelessness in both New York City and also in Washington D.C. Between March 3 and March 9, three men were shot in Washington D.C. One of those men succumbed to his injuries. The suspect in both cities is believed to be the same individual. Following their conversation, Adams and Bowser released the following joint statement:

 

 

“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 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 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.

 

As our law enforcement agencies work quickly with federal partners to locate the suspect, we are also calling on unsheltered residents to seek shelter. Again, it is heartbreaking and tragic to know that in addition to all the dangers that unsheltered residents face, we now have a cold-blooded killer on the loose, but we are certain that we will get the suspect off the street and into police custody.”

 

The NYPD also released additional photos of the suspect on Sunday, which are attached. Police Commissioner Keechant L.  Sewell and Chief of Police Robert J. Contee, III of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington D.C., announced on Sunday that both departments are investigating the various shootings of homeless people in both cities, jointly with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

 

The first Washington D.C. incident occurred on Thursday, March 3, at approximately 4 a.m., when members of the 5th District responded to the 1100 block of New York Avenue, Northeast following sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

 

On Tuesday, March 8, at approximately 1:21 a.m., members of the 5th District responded to the 1700 block of H Street, Northeast for a report of a shooting, and on arrival, officers located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

 

On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at approximately 2:54 a.m., a member of the Metropolitan Police Department was in the area of the 400 block of New York Avenue, Northeast and observed a tent fire. D.C. Fire officials and EMS responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Further investigation revealed the remains of an adult male which displayed no signs consistent with life and was pronounced deceased.

 

The victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. As a result of an autopsy, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was multiple stab and gunshot wounds. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

 

In reference to the investigation, Sewell said, “Our homeless population is one of our most vulnerable and an individual praying on them as they sleep is an exceptionally heinous crime. We will use every tool, every technique and every partner to bring the killer to justice.”

 

For his part, Contee said, “From the first incident, the Metropolitan Police has spared no resource in our efforts to identify the suspect behind these cowardly acts. We are committed to sharing every investigative path, clue and piece of evidence with our law enforcement partners to bring this investigation to a swift conclusion and the individual behind these vicious crimes to justice.”

 

Meanwhile, ATF Director Marvin Richardson said of the case, “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. 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 Washington DC and New York City. Our three agencies are one team.”

 

On Tuesday, March 15, the D.C. Metropolitan police released a tweet, saying, “Earlier, this A.M., law enforcement arrested the suspect in Washington D.C. He is currently being interviewed at our Homicide Branch. Additional information will be forthcoming. Thanks to the community for all your tips.”

 

Meanwhile, the NYPD also released a tweet, saying, “The suspect in 5 shooting incidents, including 2 homicides, in NY and Washington DC has been apprehended thanks to our law enforcement partners in @DCPoliceDept, @ATFWashington, and @FBIWFO. The investigation into these incidents remains active and ongoing.

 

In a joint press release, issued Tuesday, March 15, Adams, Sewell, Bowser and Contee confirmed the arrest of the suspect in connection with the Washington D.C. incidents. No arrest has yet been made in connection with the New York City incidents, and according to the NYPD, the investigation is active and ongoing. Sewell and other NYPD officials provided a further update on the incidents later on Tuesday during a press briefing. 

Watch as @NYPDPC and NYPD Executives provide information regarding recent crimes. https://t.co/0XuXMzfG6G

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 15, 2022

 

In the context of the announcement, Adams said, “Yesterday, I stood with Commissioner Sewell, Mayor Bowser, Chief Contee, and the ATF to show the coordinated effort between multiple cities and the federal government to bring a cold-blooded killer to justice, and, today, we’re proud to announce that that suspect is in custody.”

 

He added, “This man targeted those experiencing homelessness with no regard for life, but this criminal is now off the streets. Gun violence against anyone, let alone our most vulnerable populations, is sick, but thanks to the coordination between different levels of law enforcement and the public’s help, those experiencing homelessness can breathe a sigh of relief today. The recent rise in gun violence remains a concern for us all, and we will do everything in our power to keep our citizens safe because public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity.”

 

For her part, Bowser thanked everyone in Washington D.C., New York City, and elsewhere who sent in tips about the suspect. “I also want to thank Mayor Adams and his team in New York, our team at MPD, as well as our federal partners at the ATF for their collaboration and partnership,” she said. “We said that the work to remove this man from our streets was urgent and our communities responded.” She added, “We know that this experience has been especially scary for our residents experiencing homelessness. Our work continues to end homelessness and ensure all residents have access to safe and affordable housing. Our work also continues to get guns off our streets, to address the proliferation of firearms, and to prevent violence while also working swiftly to hold people accountable when they terrorize and bring harm to our communities.”

 

Meanwhile, Sewell also gave her reaction, saying, “Excellent detective work, teamwork with our partners from the Metropolitan Police in DC at the ATF, and the FBI culminated in the arrest of the suspect in five shootings, including two murders of homeless men in New York City and Washington, DC. People experiencing homelessness have many worries to cope with every day. Tonight, they will have one less.”

 

Contee echoed those sentiments, also thanking the community members who submitted tips and information in relation to the case as well as the law enforcement partners for what she described as “their tireless efforts in bringing this individual to justice.” Contee added, “It is essential for us to work together as a community to close cases and show the world that there is no place for those who commit violence in our communities.”

 

The suspect in 5 shooting incidents, including 2 homicides, in NY and Washington DC has been apprehended thanks to our law enforcement partners in @DCPoliceDept, @ATFWashington, and @FBIWFO. The investigation into these incidents remains active and ongoing. https://t.co/T4ckH1GnhQ

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 15, 2022

 

Anyone who can identify this individual or who has knowledge of these incidents should call police in Washington D.C. at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to MPD’s anonymous text tip line at 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this offense. The ATF Washington Field Division is offering an additional $20,000.

 

Anyone who can identify this individual or who has knowledge of these incidents should call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

A combined reward in the amount of $10,000 is being offered in regard to the below listed incident. Up to $3,500 payable by CrimeStoppers upon arrest and indictment and $6,500 payable by NYPD upon arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this incident.