‘He was out hunting’: Stockton serial killer suspect arrested, linked to 6 CA murders, police say

STOCKTON, Calif. — Stockton authorities mentioned on Saturday an arrest has been made linked to the six murders in California.

Stockton police chief Stanley McFadden, metropolis supervisor Harry Black and Mayor Kevin Lincoln made the announcement in a joint press convention concerning the murder collection investigation.

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was arrested round 2 a.m. Saturday, Chief McFadden mentioned.

Stockton, California officers say Rogers Park homicide suspect, serial killer do not seem like identical

“Our surveillance group adopted this individual whereas he was driving. We watched his patterns and decided early this morning he was on a mission to kill. He was out looking,” Chief McFadden mentioned.

Chief McFadden mentioned Brownlee was stopped as officers made contact with the suspect. Brownlee was sporting darkish clothes and had a masks round his neck. The chief mentioned Brownlee was additionally armed with a firearm when he was taken into custody.

Brownlee can be arraigned on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Chicago police have been speaking with legislation enforcement officers in California as officers in each states have been working to find out if the killer was linked to a string of 2018 murders in Rogers Park primarily based on similarities in surveillance movies from each places.

Nevertheless, Stockton police mentioned later Friday there didn’t seem like a connection.

Earlier this month, authorities mentioned the California serial killer appears to be “on a mission” all through the deadly capturing of six males and the wounding of 1 lady relationship again to 2021.

Ballistics checks and video proof linked the crimes in Stockton and Oakland, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) aside, police mentioned.

The primary deadly capturing was in Oakland in April 2021. The girl was wounded in Stockton days later. Greater than a 12 months handed, then the 5 killings in Stockton passed off between July 8 and Sept. 27, all inside a radius of some sq. miles, police mentioned.

All the victims have been alone, police mentioned, and the killings occurred at evening or within the early morning.

“What we appear to have in frequent might be complexion — it has been of us which might be completely different races, however they’ve an analogous complexion,” the chief continued. “The situation, the environments have been constant: It is very darkish places, it is places the place there’s not very many witnesses round.”

“This can be a person who lurks within the shadows,” McFadden added. “Our victims are being caught without warning.”

This story is growing. Examine again for updates.