Police have linked two shootings that occurred in April 2021 in Stockton and Oakland, Calif., to a series of five similar murders being investigated by local and federal investigators, Stockton police said Monday.
The first shooting, on April 10 at 4:18 a.m., left a 40-year-old Hispanic man dead in Oakland, police said.
The second shooting happened April 16 in Stockton, police said. A 46-year-old black woman was shot around 3:20 a.m. and survived her injuries, police said.
Investigators believe the two cases are part of a pattern of five shootings in which the victims, some homeless, were attacked while outside in isolated areas in the early morning hours, police said. The five shootings occurred from July 8 to September 27.
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A person of interest is being sought in connection with the cases, Police Chief Stanley McFadden announced Friday.
Investigators determined the two new cases were connected to the five known cases through ballistics evidence, which showed the same type of weapon was used, according to Stockton police spokesman Officer Joseph Silva.
Silva said he could not disclose the specific type of weapon used for the integrity of the investigation.
According to Silva, police interviewed the survivor of the April 16 shooting last year and plan to conduct additional interviews with her.
On Monday, Stockton police also reported that the reward for information leading to an arrest in the investigation increased from $85,000 to $125,000 after two donations were made from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the owner of a local construction business.
Reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron.
