81-year-old accused of being ‘serial slingshot shooter’ is charged after years of vandalism, police say

Cindy Von Quednow and Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN

(CNN) — For astir a decade, nan residents of a Los Angeles County vicinity person been bedeviled by mysteriously shattered windows, cracked windshields and adjacent misses from mini projectiles, each allegedly astatine nan hands of an 81-year-old neighbour who constabulary are calling a “serial slingshot shooter.”

The suspect, Prince King, was arrested successful Azusa, California, past week aft a “lengthy investigation” revealed he had been pestering nan organization for 9 to 10 years, yet causing arsenic overmuch arsenic $10,000 successful damage, according to nan Azusa Police Department.

After years of sporadic vandalism reports, a sergeant noticed immoderate similarities successful nan incidents and began to excavation deeper.

“What we had present was much than conscionable random acts of vandalism,” constabulary Lt. Robert Chivas told CNN. Investigators wished a personification “broke windows, windshields and almost stuck group pinch shot bearings” complete nan years, constabulary said successful an online post.

King is accused of carrying retired nan acts and has been charged pinch 5 counts of felony vandalism and 2 counts of misdemeanor vandalism, according to nan criminal title from nan Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He has pleaded not guilty.

“During nan people of our investigation and surveillance, we did observe Mr. King perpetrate a crime, which was firing a shot base from nan sling shot,” Chivas said.

Ball bearings and a slingshot were besides recovered successful King’s location during a May 23 hunt that resulted successful his arrest, constabulary said.

King has been released from custody connected his ain recognizance, according to nan territory attorney’s office. He is scheduled to reappear successful tribunal connected June 17.

CNN has sought remark from King and nan Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, which is representing him.

It is unclear if King knew immoderate of nan victims personally, and nan motive down nan alleged incidents remains unknown, Chivas said.

Fabiola Madrigal Rodriguez moved to nan Azusa vicinity astir 8 months agone and noticed 1 of her car shed windows was damaged – a repair that could group her backmost astir $500, she told CNN.

But it wasn’t until constabulary came to her doorway and began investigating nan surgery model that she learned of nan suspected serial vandal, Rodriguez said.

“I grew concerned. I person children, mini children. We for illustration to spell outside, play pinch nan dog, and of people you want to beryllium safe,” she said.

When she learned her aged neighbour had been arrested, she said she “couldn’t judge it.”