SAN DIEGO — Police have arrested a man suspected in a series of attacks on homeless people in San Diego.
Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, was arrested Thursday, July 7 in Chula Vista and charged with murder and attempted murder.
San Diego Police Department Homicide Division Capt. David Nisleit held a press conference stating, “At this time, we have probable cause to arrest Mr. Padgett for these heinous crimes.”
The spree began Sunday, July 3, when police found the badly burned remains of Angelo De Nardo, 53, between an interstate highway and train tracks. Witnesses said they saw a man on fire running down the train tracks and another man running away carrying a gas can.
The next day, officers responding to a 911 call found Manuel Mason, 61, who suffered life-threatening injuries to his upper torso and remained in critical condition, Thursday.
A few hours later, police discovered the body of Shawn Longley, 41, who bled from the upper torso and died.
A fourth victim was found on Wednesday, July 6. Authorities found a man ablaze on the ground across from the federal courthouse downtown. A burning towel was found on the victim, a 23-year-old man, who was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
The motives for the attacks are unknown.
Padgett said in interviews when he was arrested that he was not guilty. But, according to NBC, sources confirmed Padgett was arrested in 2010 for setting a homeless man on fire.
