CA's Possible Serial Killer: 5 Things To Know

STOCKTON, CA — The fatal shootings of six men, and the wounding of one woman in California, may be the work of a serial killer, police said Monday. Ballistics tests link crimes going back more than a year.

Just one grainy still photo of the "person of interest," released by police, could be linked to the suspected murders of men aged 21 to 54.

The sixth victim, announced by police on Monday, is a 46-year-old woman who survived her shooting attack last year. It remains to be seen whether her witness account will help officers locate a suspect.

Police said four of the Stockton homicide victims were ambushed walking alone and a fifth was in a parked car when they were killed in the evening or early morning in the city of 320,000 residents, located about 50 miles south of the state capital, Sacramento.

The city of Stockton, Stockton Crime Stoppers and a local construction company owner are offering a $95,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, authorities announced Monday.

Here's what we know about the mysterious string of shootings.

1. Shots In The Dark

All victims were killed while they were either walking or sitting alone in a dimly lit area, according to the Stockton Police department. Amid the killings, police urged residents of Stockton to avoid traveling alone through dim or isolated areas.

"...we would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant and have good situational awareness," police said.

Footage of a person of interest, as well as ballistics evidence have linked the five fatal shootings, Stockton Police Officer Joseph Silva said Monday.

“It definitely meets the definition of a serial killer,” Silva said. “What makes this different is the shooter is just looking for an opportunity and unfortunately our victims were alone in a dark area.”

Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden confirmed that all of the killings happened after dark and targeted a single victim.

“It wasn’t a robbery,” he said, according to NBC News. “Items aren’t being stolen. They’re not talking about any gang activity in the area or anything. It’s just element of surprise.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Is There A Serial Killer In NorCal?

2. Killer Targets Uncommon Or Unlikely Victims

As authorities comb Northern California for the person responsible for the row of deaths, the families connected and the medical examiner's office worked to identified the first five victims, which were all men.

"Men are rarely the victims, unless they are vulnerable in some way (such as the homeless) or part of a marginalized group (gay men or drug users, for example). So this is somewhat unusual," Jane Monckton-Smith, Ph.D., professor of public protection at the University of Gloucestershire in the U.K., told Newsweek.

"Please remember our victims have grieving family members who need resolution," police urged. "If you know something, say something."

Paul Alexander Yaw, 35, is the first identified victim and was killed on July 8, his family told KCRA 3.

He was shot around 12:30 a.m. at a park in the 5600 block of Kermit Lane, police said. He was rushed to hospital but he died of his injuries. His mother confirmed that he was unhoused when he died.

"This is my son Paul. He was a great man with a big heart," his mother, Greta Bogrow, who lives in Texas, said in a statement, KCRA reported. "He was my son, a father, a grandson, nephew, cousin and brother and was loved by many. He has left a huge hole in our hearts, and I hope they catch the person(s) responsible before this happens again."

Salvador William Debudey Jr., 43, was killed in a parking lot in the 4900 block of West Lane on Aug. 11 around 9:49 p.m., just five minutes away from Yaw's killing, police said. He is the second known victim, police said.

Despite life saving measures performed by arriving officers, he died at the scene.

"To be honest with you, a part of me died with him that day," his wife, Analydia Lopez told KCRA 3. "It's been hard. It's been really, really hard."

Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, died on Aug. 30 in the 800 block of E. Hammer Lane at 6:41 a.m. No other details have been released about the incident other than it was linked to the string of fatal shootings.

Juan Cruz, 52, died Sept. 21 in the 4400 block of Manchester Avenue at 4:27 a.m. Like Rodriguez, no other details have been made available to the public.

Lorenzo Lopez, 54, may the most recent victim. He was shot just before 2 a.m. on the 900 block of Porter Avenue, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He was there for me. He was watching out for me. I wish I could’ve watched out for him," Jerry Lopez told KCRA, referring to his big brother Lorenzo.

He “was just a person who was out here at the wrong place, at the wrong time, at the wrong circumstance,” Jerry Lopez, told KXTV-TV. “It’s hard to process that this has happened.”

3. At Least One Other 2021 Bay Area Incident May Be Linked

A 40-year-old Oakland man who was struck by at least one fatal gunshot wound on April 10, 2021, could actually be the first known death linked to Stockton's possible serial killer, police announced Monday.

The man, whose identify has not been released, was killed at 4:18 a.m. on the 5700 block of Harmon Avenue in Oakland last year — about 72 miles from where the rest of the shootings were later reported.

More than 99 homicides have been investigated in Oakland this year, but ballistics evidence reportedly links the Oakland man's death to the rest.

4. A Woman Remains The Only Survivor

Six days after a 40-year-old man was fatally shot in Oakland in the early hours of the morning, a 46-year-old woman was also shot on Park and Union streets in Stockton on April 16, 2021. But she survived her injuries.

The shooting disrupts what police suspected was consistent about the killings — gender. Until this week, all of the known victims were men. Now, she may be a key witness.

David Wilson, a professor emeritus of criminology at Birmingham City University in the U.K., told Newsweek that he didn't necessarily suspect that she survived because she was shot at mistakenly.

"I think she was just lucky," he said. "She was fortunate. But then, the fortune now favors the police, because they've got some indication by being able to interview her as to the circumstances in which she came to be shot."

5. 'Brazen' Killer Remains Largely A Mystery To Police

None of the shootings were captured by video cameras and no firearms have been recovered.

“We don’t have any video of anybody holding any gun or actually committing a crime,” Silva said in a phone interview with the Associated Press Monday

But he did confirm that the footage that has been reviewed, as well as ballistics evidence, strings the known killings. At least five victims were shot by a handgun, but it remains unclear whether it was the same gun used for each victim.

There may even be multiple people involved in the violence.

“To be honest, we just don’t know,” Silva said. “This person or people who are out doing this, they are definitely very bold and brazen.”

Monckton-Smith said the suspect is likely to "[have] good local knowledge, able to be out at night without attracting comment, [and has a] possible history of domestic abuse or control in relationships."

It could suggest that an element of planning and familiarity with the area, since the person's image has not been captured clearly anywhere and has not been spotted by witnesses, she said.

The Stockton Police Department is urging anyone with information to call the department's tip line at 209-937-8167. Information may also emailed to policetips@stocktonca.gov.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Stockton Crime Stoppers by:

• TYPE - Submit a Tip online using the Stockton Crime Stoppers website at StocktonCrimeStoppers.org.
  
• TALK - Call Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
  
• DOWNLOAD the P3 Tips Mobile App and submit tips anonymously.
  

Anyone who sees suspicious activity can call 209-937-8377 or 911 if it’s an emergency.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.