Suspected serial killer wanted for shooting at least five homeless men in NYC and DC is arrested

Attacks have seen authorities warning unhoused people to leave streets and seek shelter

Police in Washington DC say they have arrested a man suspected of attacking at least five homeless people across the capital and New York City.

The DC Police Department announced on Twitter early Tuesday: “Early this AM, law enforcement arrested the suspect in Washington, DC. He is currently being interviewed at our Homicide Branch. Additional information will be forthcoming. Thanks to the community for all your tips.”

Authorities have not publicly named the suspect but multiple law enforcement sources confirmed his identity as Gerald Brevard III to the New York Times and Daily Beast.

The sources said Mr Brevard, 30, has an extensive rap sheet including several charges of assault in DC and Virginia. In one prior case in 2019, Mr Brevard was deemed mentally incompetent after a court-ordered evaluation and was placed in a psychiatric hospital, the Times reported.

Mr Brevard’s father, Gerald Brevard Jr, told Daily Beast he was “crushed” by the news of his son’s arrest.

“This has all come as a surprise. I never thought he would be violent,” he said. “He was always mild-mannered.”

The 80-year-old said the pair had spoken on Monday and Mr Brevard “did not say anything out of the ordinary”.

“It was a normal conversation. But he was dealing with mental illness for the longest time. He has been in and out of mental hospitals.”

Mr Brevard’s cousin, Dearell Charlie Brevard, also told Daily Beast he was “totally shocked” by the allegations.

“I was not aware of his arrest. I last saw him three months ago at a relative’s house. I am just in awe. I would never expect this at all from Gerald,” the cousin said, noting that he wasn’t particularly close with Mr Brevard but did see him recently.

“I need to call his dad! Find out what’s going on. I can’t believe this,” he added.

Police officials in New York City and DC did not immediately return The Independent’s requests for comment about the identity of the suspect, whose arrest followed an extensive manhunt after his alleged attacks were pictured on multiple CCTV cameras in both cities.

Residents were warned not to approach him, and authorities warned homeless individuals to seek shelter.

The attacks under investigation included two incidents in New York in the early hours of 13 March in which the NYPD said the suspect approach “two homeless individuals on the street” before shooting both of them, killing one.

Footage of the attacks, which began on 3 March, sparked speculation about a serial killer being active in the two cities. Mayors Muriel Bowser and Eric Adams gave a joint briefing on Monday in which they urged witnesses to come forward.

As the various law enforcement agencies involved offered a combined $70,000 award for information leading to an arrest, the New York mayor’s response to the violent incidents quickly became a matter of controversy.

Homelessness charities spoke out against Mr Adams for adding pressure on homeless people to leave the streets having already begun rolling out a “zero tolerance” policy towards rough sleepers, including a ban on lying across seats on subway trains.

The Coalition for the Homeless said the recent shootings were “an urgent reminder that many unsheltered New Yorkers choose to bed down in the subways because that is where they feel the most safe in the absence of housing and low-barrier shelters”.