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A multi-city manhunt is currently underway, following a string of deadly attacks on people experiencing homelessness, authorities in NYC and Washington, D.C. announced late Sunday (March 13). Two people have died so far and three others were left injured.
The most recent violence started in the early hours of Saturday morning (March 12) in NYC when the same person shot two men sleeping on the street in separate attacks, both police departments confirmed in a statement.
The first shooting took place around 4:30 a.m. An hour and half later, the second person was shot, though police said the victim was not found until the evening when someone called to report a man on the street with gunshot wounds. The man was declared dead at the scene, and is one of two homicides authorities believe are connected.
In the nation's capital earlier this month, three similar attacks were carried out on homeless people. The victim of a shooting around 4:00 a.m. on March 3 survived, another person was shot Tuesday (March 8) and survived, while a third attack left a person dead after a Metropolitan Police officer noticed a tent fire on Wednesday (March 9). After the fire department put the flames out, police discovered a body in which the city's medical examiner determined the cause of death to be gunshot or stab wounds.
Police in both cities have partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in their search for the suspect.
None of the victims's identities have been made available, NBC News reported. Authorities also have not put out a written description of the person they believe is carrying out this violence, but released stills taken from security videos.
"It is heartbreaking and tragic to know that in addition to all the dangers that unsheltered residents face, we now have a coldblooded killer on the loose, but we are certain that we will get the suspect off the street and into police custody," NYC Mayor Eric Adams and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a joint statement.
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