Suspected serial killer, 43, is arrested while ‘out hunting for new victims’ as cops believe he could be behind a string of shocking execution-style murders in California
Suspected serial killer, 43, is arrested while ‘out hunting for new victims’ as cops believe he could be behind a string of shocking execution-style murders in California
- The California killer has been linked with seven shootings since 2021
- Whitaker, 43, was taken into custody at around 2.00am Saturday morning while authorities say he was out looking for his next kill
- Five of the seven victims have been Hispanic, though police say it is unclear if the killer was motivated by race
- The Stockton Police confirmed to the DailyMail.com that they believe the man they arrested is the same individual in surveillance footage released days ago
- The mayor of Stockton says families in the community should be able to ‘rest a little bit easier tonight’
By SOPHIE MANN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 19:07 EDT, 15 October 2022 | UPDATED: 21:58 EDT, 15 October 2022
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Police in California say they have caught a suspected serial killer responsible for a handful of murders that have haunted the Stockton and Oakland areas.
Authorities say they apprehended the suspect, identified as Wesley Brownlee, 43, while he was driving before dawn Saturday, possibly on the prowl to collect another life.
Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said on Saturday, ‘Early this morning he was on a mission to kill, he was out hunting.’
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‘He was wearing dark clothing and had a mask around his neck. He was also armed with a firearm when he was taken into custody. We are sure we stopped another killing,’ he continued.
‘Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill,’ he said, adding that Brownlee was detained after engaging in what appeared to be threatening behavior, including going to parks and dark places, stopping and looking around before driving on.
A moment of silence was held at the news conference for the victims of the suspect who has been terrorizing the community for close to two years.
Investigators began watching the suspect after receiving tips and stopped him in a car at about 2 a.m. in the Central Valley city, where five of the shootings took place, said McFadden.
