San Diego police release sketch of suspect in multiple killings of homeless men

Homicide investigators on Thursday released a sketch of the man they say has killed three homeless men and critically injured a fourth in separate, brutal attacks in San Diego.

The simple pencil sketch shows a man with a large chin, prominent eyes and a cap.

Investigators previously released surveillance video of the suspect as he entered a Bay Park gas station store and bought a gasoline can. In that video, he wore a green cap with a short visor, similar to a Greek fisherman’s hat. His age was estimated at 35 to 50.

The series of violent assaults began July 3, with the death of Angelo De Nardo, 53, who was killed and then set on fire under the Clairemont Drive overpass at Morena Boulevard, near the 5 Freeway, about 8 a.m.

On July 4, about 4:50 a.m., Manuel Nunez Mason, 61, was critically injured on Greenwood Street in the Midway District. Less than two hours later, Shawn Mitchell Longley, 41, was found dead of injuries on Bacon Street in Ocean Beach.

Then, about 5 a.m. on Wednesday, witnesses heard loud banging noises and saw one man set another on fire along a walkway between condominium complexes between State Street and Kettner Boulevard, south of Broadway in downtown San Diego. Investigators said a towel was ignited on top of the critically injured man, identified as 23-year-old Dionicio Derek Vahidy. A witness snatched away the towel before the victim was seriously burned.

Vahidy died of his injuries Sunday.

Investigators arrested Anthony Padgett on Thursday as a suspect in the case but released him from jail Monday, saying they didn’t have enough evidence to hold him.

Repard writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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