Homeless Targeted In 5 NYC And DC Shootings, Police Say

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — A homeless man was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head Saturday morning in Lower Manhattan, part of what police say is a series of shootings targeting homeless people in New York City and Washington D.C.

Five people sleeping on the streets have been shot and two have died in similar circumstances in the two major northeast cities this month, police said.

A 38-year-old man shot in the arm while sleeping near King and Varick streets in SoHo about 4:30 a.m. Saturday is the most recent victim, NYPD said in a joint release with the Metropolitan Police Department.

NYPD Chief Hank Sautner said in a news conference Saturday night the homeless man screamed, "What are you doing?" as the gunman fled.

About an hour later on Saturday morning, a more gruesome discovery was found a bit farther downtown near Chinatown.

NYPD discovered a man dead with gunshot wounds to the head and neck inside a sleeping bag at 148 Lafayette St. police said.

The location is around 15 blocks from the King Street block in SoHo.

Given the similarity to the three shootings of homeless people that took place between March 3rd and 9th in Washington D.C., the two city's police forces have agreed to lead the investigation together, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“Our homeless population is one of our most vulnerable and an individual praying on them as they sleep is an exceptionally heinous crime," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a news release. "We will use every tool, every technique and every partner to bring the killer to justice.”

Another homeless man was found dead near Greenwich and Murray streets in TriBeCa Sunday about 6:30 p.m., police said.

However, NYPD has said the cause of death isn't confirmed and it's unclear if the death is connected to the five shootings.

Mayor Eric Adams released a joint statement with Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser urging homeless people to seek shelter and get off the streets.

"As our law enforcement agencies work quickly with federal partners to locate the suspect, we are also calling on unsheltered residents to seek shelter," the two mayors said. "Again, 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, but we are certain that we will get the suspect off the street and into police custody.”

Adams said the city is upping its outreach to get more homeless people in the five boroughs into shelters in response to the shootings.

Police also announced a $10,000 reward Sunday for information leading to the shooter's arrest.

Anyone who can identify this individual or who has knowledge of these incidents should call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).