5 shot after 'cold-blooded killer' targeted homeless men in Washington, New York City

NEW YORK — Officials in New York and Washington are looking for "a cold-blooded killer" who police say has targeted people experiencing homelessness in a string of recent shootings, including two that were fatal.

Since March 3, at least five homeless men have been shot in New York and Washington, leaving at least one man in each city dead.

"It is heartbreaking and tragic to know that in addition to all the dangers that unsheltered residents face, we now have a cold-blooded killer on the loose," Mayors Eric Adams of New York and Muriel Bowser of Washington said in a joint statement Sunday night.

Police in both cities are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate what Bowser called a "disturbing series of violent attacks" during a news conference Monday. 

'HORRIFIC AND SENSELESS' MURDERS ARE LATEST JOLT FOR HOMELESS ADVOCATES:What needs to change?

The NYPD said the departments will jointly investigate given the similar circumstances of the shootings, evidence recovered and "information from ATF's National Integrated Ballistic Information Network."

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said Monday a "ton of video and camera footage" allowed the two departments to forensically link the cases.

Not much is known about the suspect, Contee said, including whether he is homeless himself, what city he lives in, or his mode of transportation. 

The spate of attacks began March 3 in Washington when police responded to a man experiencing homelessness who was injured with a gunshot wound in the northeast section of the city around 4 a.m. His injuries were not life-threatening, and he was taken to a hospital, police said.

Five days later, another homeless man was wounded in a shooting around 1:20 a.m., just over a mile from the scene of the first, district police said. His injuries were also nonfatal.

The next day, March 9, a police officer in the same area of the city saw a tent on fire around 2:50 a.m. Firefighters put the blaze out, and police discovered the remains of a man with multiple stab and gunshot wounds. An autopsy report ruled the death was a homicide, police said.

WHERE WILL THEY GO? New York wants to stop people from living in the subways.

The violence resumed days later in New York.

On March 12 in New York's SoHo neighborhood, a man, 38, sleeping on the street was shot in his right forearm around 4:30 a.m., NYPD Deputy Chief Hank Saunter said at a news conference Saturday. Saunter said the man woke up and screamed, "What are you doing?" before the assailant ran away.

Later in the day, about a mile away, police received a call about a man who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses told police they heard gunshots around 6 a.m., and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Video of the second shooting in New York shows the assailant approaching the man, kicking him several times as he looks around the street, then opening fire. Saunter said there was no indication the attacker made any statements to the victims.

Police released photos of the assailant showing him wearing dark clothing. In one photo, the man appears to be bald. Police provided no other details about the attacker, but asked the public for help, offering combined awards up to $70,000 from district  police, NYPD and ATF.

Contee directly addressed the suspect during Monday's press conference, saying to turn himself in and warning that police would find him otherwise. 

“This person has unnecessarily taken the lives of two innocent people," Contee said. 

NO 'SURRENDER':Mayor Eric Adams lays out gun violence plan in NYC

NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell added: "Our homeless population is one of our most vulnerable, and an individual preying on them as they sleep is an exceptionally heinous crime. We will use every tool, every technique and every partner to bring the killer to justice."

Bowser and Adams called on people experiencing homelessness in both cities to seek shelter during Monday's press conference.

“Homelessness should not be a homicide," Adams said. “...We don’t want to lose another resident in this city, in New York, or anywhere else.”