Sketch of Suspect in Deadly San Diego Homeless Attacks Released

San Diego, CA — Police on Thursday released a composite sketch of an unidentified man believed to be responsible for a series of violent and deadly attacks on members of the city's homeless community.

Two transients were found dead by authorities in the series that began July 3. A third victim found critically injured was hospitalized but died within a few days. Authorities are holding out hope that a fourth victim who suffered critical injuries will survive.

All the incidents have involved injuries to the victims' torsos and upper bodies and have occurred during the early-morning hours when the victims were sleeping, according to San Diego police. In some cases, the victims were set on fire.

"These evil acts of violence are some of the worst that I have seen in my 34 years in law enforcement," San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said. "This killer has targeted some of our city's most vulnerable citizens while they are asleep."

Last week, San Diego police arrested a homeless man from Chula Vista, Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, in connection with the attacks. But Monday, Padgett was released from custody when evidence was developed that excluded him from the investigation, San Diego police Capt. David Nisleit said.

"That doesn't mean things won’t come back full circle tomorrow and we find that Padgett is our main suspect; there is always that sight possibility," Nisleit said Monday.

Meantime, police are once again asking for the public's help to identify and locate the suspect believed to have killed Angelo DeNardo, 53, Shawn Mitchell Longley, 41, and Dionicio Derek Vahiday, 23. Manuel Nunez Mason, 61, has thus far survived the injuries inflicted upon him.

"...There are no other updates in this case; however, we need to keep public awareness of this series at the forefront," said San Diego police Lt. Scott Wahl.

The first homicide victim, De Nardo, was discovered dead just after 8 a.m. Sunday in the area of 2700 Morena Boulevard —near Interstate 5 and the train tracks — when emergency personnel responded to a report of a fire. Upon putting out the blaze, they discovered a badly burned body. The victim was identified as De Nardo, a homeless man who has family in Pennsylvania.

Witnesses told police they saw a man running near the area with a gas can just prior to the fire. Other witnesses were able to describe what a person seen running from the scene was wearing.

Less than 24 hours later, at 4:51 a.m. Monday — the Fourth of July — a 911 caller reported a man, who was later identified as Mason, lying on the ground bleeding from torso wounds in the 3700 block of Greenwood Street, off Sports Arena Boulevard near Valley View Casino Center.

Ninety minutes later, at 6:10 a.m. Monday, July 4, a San Diego police officer was flagged down in the 2500 block of Bacon Street in Ocean Beach about a man down and bleeding from his upper torso. Police arrived to find the victim, identified as Longley, deceased.

Then, just after 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, police responded to an apartment complex in the 700 block of Kettner Boulevard after receiving reports of a violent disturbance. They found a young man — Vahiday — suffering from wounds to his upper body who had also been set on fire. He later died in a hospital.

In addition to the sketch, police have released video surveillance and images of their suspect, which were taken in a convenience store near one of the crime scenes.

Anyone with information on these cases should call the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in these cases. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent via Sdcrimestoppers.org.

Investigators urge the public to report any suspicious behavior they see.

"We need more information coming forward; the public and the media have been great — we continue getting tips and that is how we are going to solve this case," Nisleit said. "...We will work tirelessly to figure this case out."

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.

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