California city rests easier after serial killings arrest

STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) — Residents of Stockton, California, had been in a position to relaxation easier following the weekend arrest of a person suspected of killing six males and wounding a lady in a collection of shootings over a interval of three months in Northern California, the city’s mayor mentioned Sunday.

Mayor Kevin Lincoln mentioned he shed tears of aid when he was knowledgeable that the suspect who police consider had terrorized Stockton since July was taken into custody round 2 a.m. Saturday.

Wesley Brownlee was wearing black, wore a masks round his neck, had a handgun and “was out hunting” for an additional potential sufferer when he was arrested whereas driving across the Central Valley city, the place 5 of the shootings happened, Police Chief Stanley McFadden mentioned at a Saturday news convention.

“The city was able to sleep a little bit better last night,” Lincoln mentioned Sunday morning. “No resident of this city should have to walk around town looking over their shoulder in fear.”

The mayor credited residents of Stockton who referred to as in a whole lot of tricks to investigators that ultimately led to the arrest of the 43-year-old suspect.

It wasn’t instantly clear on Sunday whether or not Brownlee, of Stockton, had an lawyer to talk on his behalf. He was anticipated to be arraigned Tuesday on homicide expenses.

“This person caused a lot of hurt, caused a lot of trauma,” Lincoln mentioned. “My prayer, my hope, as mayor is that our community begins the process of healing as a result of the serial killings.”

Police had been looking for a person clad in black who was caught on video at a number of of the crime scenes in Stockton, the place 5 males had been ambushed and shot to dying between July 8 and Sept. 27. Four had been strolling, and one was in a parked automobile.

Police consider the identical particular person was liable for killing a person 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in Oakland in April 2021 and wounding a homeless lady in Stockton every week later.

Investigators have mentioned ballistics assessments and video proof linked the crimes. A police photograph confirmed the black-and-gray weapon allegedly carried by the suspect. It seemed to be a semi-automatic handgun containing some nonmetallic supplies.

At Saturday’s news convention, a second of silence was held for the victims.

Juan Vasquez Serrano, 39, was killed in Oakland on April 10, 2021, and Natasha LaTour, 46, was shot in Stockton on April 16 of that yr however survived. The 5 males killed in Stockton this yr had been Paul Yaw, 35, who died July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, who died Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, who died Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, who died Sept. 21; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, who died Sept. 27.

Police mentioned Brownlee has a legal historical past and is believed to have additionally lived in a number of cities close to Stockton, however they didn’t give additional particulars.

After receiving a whole lot of suggestions, investigators situated and watched the place the place Brownlee was dwelling.

“Based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers, we were able to zero in on a possible suspect,” McFadden mentioned. “Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving.”

Investigators watched his patterns and decided that he was out looking for one other sufferer, the chief mentioned.

“We are sure we stopped another killing,” he mentioned.

McFadden added that Brownlee was detained after participating in what seemed to be threatening conduct, together with going to parks and darkish locations, stopping and searching round earlier than driving on.

Investigators had been nonetheless processing proof and attempting to establish a motive for the assaults, Officer Joseph Silva, a police spokesperson, mentioned Sunday. Police mentioned some victims had been homeless, however not all. None had been overwhelmed or robbed, and the girl who survived mentioned her attacker didn’t say something.

The police chief thanked numerous native, state and federal businesses that took half within the investigation, together with the FBI, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Local investigators had additionally labored with police in Chicago to find out whether or not the killings may be linked to 2 2018 murders in that city’s Rogers Park neighborhood. Authorities mentioned movies of suspects confirmed a person in black with a particular stroll.

However, Chicago police mentioned Friday that there didn’t seem like any link.