Suspect Sought in Deaths of 2 Homeless Men, Beating of a Third: San Diego Police

San Diego, CA — A suspect is sought in the deaths of two homeless men and the assault of a third within a 24-hour period over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in San Diego.

Police on Monday released surveillance images of the man they believe may be responsible for the attacks, based on information they developed in the case.

The first fatal attack was discovered just after 8 a.m. Sunday near 2700 Morena Blvd. in Bay Park — near that train tracks at Interstate 5 and Mission Bay Drive — when San Diego police and fire personnel responded to a report of a fire. Upon extinguishing the blaze, firefighters found a deceased man — 53-year-old Angelo De Nardo — whom police now believe was killed prior to being set on fire, San Diego police Lt. Manny Del Toro said Tuesday.

"An autopsy was conducted and investigators have learned the deceased male was killed prior to being set on fire," Del Toro said. "The autopsy also revealed extensive trauma to the victim’s upper torso."

De Nardo was believed to be homeless and had family in Pennsylvania, according to Del Toro.

Witnesses of the fire described what a man seen running from the scene was wearing, and told police they also saw a man carrying a gas can near the area, Del Toro said.

Police were alerted to the second incident just before 5 a.m. Monday — the Fourth of July — when a man was found bleeding from injuries to his upper torso in the 3700 block of Greenwood Street, according to Lt. Ray Valentin. The man was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The third incident was discovered about 90 minutes later, at about 6:10 a.m., in the 2500 block of Bacon Street, near Robb Field in Ocean Beach.

"A San Diego police officer was flagged down ... regarding a person down and bleeding from his upper torso. When officers arrived on scene, they located a deceased adult male with trauma to his upper torso," Valentin said.

The identity of the second deceased man had not been released as of Tuesday.

Police asked members of the public to review surveillance images and video of the suspect, and to call police if they have information about his whereabouts or anything else pertaining to the case.

The San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit can be reached at 619-531-2346. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

"These attacks have occurred in the early-morning hours and investigators urge the public to report
any suspicious behavior they see," authorities said in a Crime Stoppers statement. "Investigators are also asking that the public spread the word to the homeless population to remain vigilant, avoid sleeping alone, and to stay in open, well-lit areas."