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Iraq veteran Itzcoatl Ocampo charged with homeless deaths | Iraq veteran Itzcoatl Ocampo charged with homeless deaths |
(40 minutes later) | |
An Iraq war veteran has been charged with stabbing four homeless people to death in southern California - and police say he planned more attacks. | An Iraq war veteran has been charged with stabbing four homeless people to death in southern California - and police say he planned more attacks. |
Itzcoatl Ocampo, a 23-year-old former Marine whose own father is homeless, allegedly stalked the victims, stabbing some of them more than 40 times. | Itzcoatl Ocampo, a 23-year-old former Marine whose own father is homeless, allegedly stalked the victims, stabbing some of them more than 40 times. |
He has been charged with serial murder and using a deadly weapon. | He has been charged with serial murder and using a deadly weapon. |
After the killings began in December, police undertook night patrols and urged homeless people to seek shelter. | After the killings began in December, police undertook night patrols and urged homeless people to seek shelter. |
Mr Ocampo was arrested last Friday when bystanders gave chase after he allegedly stabbed a 64-year-old homeless man to death outside a fast-food restaurant in Anaheim, California. | Mr Ocampo was arrested last Friday when bystanders gave chase after he allegedly stabbed a 64-year-old homeless man to death outside a fast-food restaurant in Anaheim, California. |
'Relished media attention' | 'Relished media attention' |
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told a news conference on Tuesday in Santa Ana city that there was no indication the accused was mentally ill. | Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told a news conference on Tuesday in Santa Ana city that there was no indication the accused was mentally ill. |
"It will be proven that the defendant planned all of his murders in advance; that he stalked his victims; that he looked for the right opportunity to execute them," he said. | "It will be proven that the defendant planned all of his murders in advance; that he stalked his victims; that he looked for the right opportunity to execute them," he said. |
Mr Ocampo had "relished the media attention of the crime", the district attorney added. | Mr Ocampo had "relished the media attention of the crime", the district attorney added. |
He also said the accused "had selected others" to attack, although the district attorney gave no further details. | He also said the accused "had selected others" to attack, although the district attorney gave no further details. |
Mr Ocampo had picked the final victim, John Berry, because he had appeared in a news article in which police warned homeless men to be careful, Mr Rackauckas said. | Mr Ocampo had picked the final victim, John Berry, because he had appeared in a news article in which police warned homeless men to be careful, Mr Rackauckas said. |
Police have said Berry filed a report to the authorities that someone had been following him, but they had been pursuing too many leads to investigate it. | |
What could have prompted the killings is not clear. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr Ocampo's friends remember him giving money to the homeless. | What could have prompted the killings is not clear. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr Ocampo's friends remember him giving money to the homeless. |
He is being held under 24-hour surveillance in isolation at a jail in Orange County. | He is being held under 24-hour surveillance in isolation at a jail in Orange County. |
The district attorney has appointed a panel to decide whether to push for the death penalty. | The district attorney has appointed a panel to decide whether to push for the death penalty. |
The accused's family say he was a troubled man after returning from the war. | The accused's family say he was a troubled man after returning from the war. |
He came home in 2010 after being discharged from the military. But his parents separated and one of his friends was killed during combat in Afghanistan. | He came home in 2010 after being discharged from the military. But his parents separated and one of his friends was killed during combat in Afghanistan. |
Days before his arrest, Mr Ocampo visited his father, who had ended up living under a bridge after losing his job. | Days before his arrest, Mr Ocampo visited his father, who had ended up living under a bridge after losing his job. |
His said his son had warned him about staying on the streets, and showed him a picture of one of the stabbing victims. | His said his son had warned him about staying on the streets, and showed him a picture of one of the stabbing victims. |
"He was very worried about me," his father said. | "He was very worried about me," his father said. |
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