A guy was detained early Tuesday on suspicion of following and shooting homeless persons sleeping on the streets of New York City and Washington. At least two individuals were killed and three others were injured in the attacks, according to police.
Gerald Brevard, the suspect, was arrested in Washington on counts of murder, assault, and other offenses after news of the killings heightened anxieties among those sleeping on the streets of the two cities and abroad.
The 30-year-old guy was only accused in the Washington cases on Tuesday; he was not charged in the New York attacks. Brevard has a criminal record that includes a police officer assault and a dangerous weapon assault. Detectives from both New York and Washington were questioning him.
Police in both cities had already published a number of surveillance photos, including a closeup of the suspect’s face taken from an ATM security camera in Washington, and begged anybody who knew him to come forward. Ballistic evidence and tips were utilized by investigators to link the shootings, and a tipster called police with information regarding the suspect’s identification, according to officials.
Police are currently contacting other places to see if the individual is involved in any other incidents. Despite the fact that he has yet to be charged in the New York cases, Metropolitan Authorities Chief Robert Contee stated that police are certain they have identified the correct culprit.
New York Police Department Chief of Detectives James Essig informed reporters that all of the shootings used.22-caliber bullets, and surveillance photographs and video, as well as witness testimony, all pointed to a single culprit, a man wearing unique sneakers, black slacks, and the same face mask.
Morgan Holmes, 54, was named as the Washington victim who died on Tuesday by police. The New York victim’s identity has not been revealed.
During conversations with detectives, Brevard has given no indication of a motivation, and authorities suspect he may have targeted the victims at random, according to Contee.
