Los Angeles authorities believe there is a serial killer on the loose

Los Angeles authorities believe there is a serial killer on the loose – who is responsible for the murders of three homeless people.

The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an extensive search for a suspected serial killer who shot three homeless people in three separate attacks across the city. Police said all of the murders happened in the early morning hours over the course of a few days in November.

The first murder occurred at around 3:00 a.m. on Nov. 26 in an alley located in the southeast area of Los Angeles. Police identified the victim as Jose Vamos, a 37-year-old male.

The second murder occurred in Central Division around 5:00 a.m. on Nov. 27. The victim was identified as 62-year-old Mark Digs.

The third occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 29. The victim was said to be a 52-year-old male.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said, "Each one was shot and killed as they slept" or were getting ready to go to sleep.

The LAPD will dispatch more patrols in areas where homeless people congregate.

The LAPD has created a task force to track down the serial killer.

Moore said, "We're bringing Homicide investigators from throughout the city. We're bringing additional investigators from specialized posts and we have placed our forensic science division on ready so that any forensic evidence that is gathered is also quickly processed and analyzed in an effort to identify the person we believe responsible for these three homicides."

Moore noted that the LAPD had contacted law enforcement officials in nearby cities to see if there were similar murders.

"We have no unsolved homicides outside the city of Los Angeles," Moore said. "Yet our work continues in identifying whether there are any other shooting victims of persons who are experiencing homelessness, which are unsolved and may have any similarities to these homicides."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, said, "This is a killer preying on the unhoused."

"Our message to the unhoused community is clear — do not sleep alone tonight," Bass advised. "Seek shelter, seek services, stay together, seek support and we need your help to get the word out."

The LAPD released two photos – one of the suspect and another of a dark-colored sedan car believed to be involved in the murders.

Police urge anyone with information on these cases to contact the tipline at (213) 486-6890.

The Los Angeles Times reported, "The killings raised new alarms in Los Angeles’ homeless community, which a count completed earlier this year pegged at more than 46,000 people. The city has been struggling to provide housing to this population, which the count found increased 10% over the last year."

The outlet noted that approximately 70% of the city's homeless population is unsheltered.

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