Three Los Angeles homeless people found stabbed with “death warrant” notes
The downtown Los Angeles skyline.
LOS ANGELES — Three homeless people in the Los Angeles area have been stabbed so far this month, and police say the attacks are related. The biggest clue? The suspect may have left a "death warrant" note with his name on it at each crime scene, the Associated Press reported. The most recent letter was found Thursday morning in Hollywood. Similar letters were found in downtown and in Santa Monica. All of the victims were stabbed in the back as they slept and managed to survive the attacks, the AP reported.
The notes were type-written, rambling commentaries with a signature at the bottom, the Los Angeles Times reported. Police said a man is currently being sought for questioning, because his name appears on the notes. Police would not tell the LA Times what else the notes said, however.
Authorities are now warning homeless people to seek shelter at night if they can. "Any homeless person sleeping anywhere outside is vulnerable tonight — more vulnerable than usual," Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith told the AP.
The first attack was reported on July 3, after a 56-year-old man crawled 100 yards seeking help as a hunting knife was lodged in his back, the LA Times reported. "It appears there is a common thread, but we cannot get into specifics," LAPD Capt. Billy Hayes told the paper.
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