A handgun-wielding suspect who is suspected of shooting six men to death and one woman to injury in a string of incidents in Northern California was detained early this morning as he drove through Stockton, according to authorities. He may have been looking for more victims.
Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at a news conference that investigators started keeping an eye on the suspect after getting tips and stopped him in a car at around two in the morning in the Central Valley city, where five of the shootings took place.
Stockton resident Wesley Brownlee, 43, had a gun, was wearing all-black, had a mask around his neck, and “was out hunting.” “explained McFadden.
“We are certain that we prevented another murder, “Added he.
It wasn’t immediately known if Brownlee had a lawyer to represent him. He was scheduled to be arraigned on murder-related charges on Wednesday.
The black-and-grey firearm the guy is believed to have been carrying was visible in a police photo. It appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun containing some nonmetallic materials.
A man wearing all black was seen on surveillance footage at several of the murder scenes in Stockton, where five men were attacked and killed with guns between July 8 and September 27. Police were looking for him. One was in a parked car, and the other four were strolling.
Police suspect the same individual killed a man in Oakland, California, 112. 6 kilometres distant, in April 2021, and wounded a homeless woman in Stockton, California, a week later.
Investigators have said ballistics tests and video evidence linked the crimes.
A moment of silence was observed during the news conference in memory of the victims.
Police did not provide any other information beyond stating that Brownlee had a criminal history and was likely a resident of numerous locations close to Stockton.
Authorities claimed that after launching the manhunt, they received hundreds of leads, and one of them helped them locate and keep an eye on Brownlee’s residence.
We were able to narrow down a potential suspect “based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers,” McFadden added. “This guy was tracked while driving by our surveillance crew. We observed his behaviour and came to the conclusion early this morning that he was on a killing mission.
Brownlee was held, according to McFadden, after acting in a way that appeared to be threatening, including visiting parks and dark areas before continuing to drive there.
The purpose of the attacks was still being sought for by investigators. Some victims, according to the police, were not all destitute. No one was assaulted or robbed, and the woman who survived claimed her assailant remained silent.
The police chief thanked various local, state and federal agencies that took part in the investigation, including the FBI, US Marshals and US Drug Enforcement Administration.
To see if the homicides could be connected to two murders that occurred in the Rogers Park neighbourhood of that city in 2018, local investigators collaborated with Chicago police. Authorities claimed that a man in black with an unique gait was visible in videos of the accused.
Chicago police, though, stated yesterday that there didn’t seem to be any connection.
Suspect in serial killings is arrested by California police
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