STOCKTON, Calif. — Stockton police revealed more information Friday amid their investigation into patterns surrounding recent homicides around the city.
In a news conference, investigators identified the five homicides they believe are related:
- July 8: The shooting death of a 35-year-old man in the 5600 block of Kermit Lane. It happened around 12:30 a.m.
- Aug. 11: The shooting death of a 43-year-old man in the 4900 block of West Lane. It happened around 9:50 p.m.
- Aug. 30: The shooting death of a 21-year-old man in the 800 block of E. Hammer Lane. It happened around 6:40 a.m.
- Sept. 21: The shooting death of a 52-year-old man in the 4400 block of Manchester Avenue. It happened around 4:30 a.m.
- Sept. 27: The shooting death of a 54-year-old man in the 900 block of Porter Avenue. It happened around 2 a.m.
Again, investigators say the homicides happened in the evening or early morning hours, and all victims were alone at the time of the shooting.
The city of Stockton released a surveillance photo of an individual they have identified as a person of interest. Chief Stanley McFadden said during the Friday news conference they are not sure if it’s a single person who committed the crimes or multiple people, but he wants to make sure they are brought to justice.
The city also put forth a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, plus $10,000 from Stockton Crime Stoppers, for a total of $85,000.
Anyone with tips can call a dedicated tip line at 209-937-8167. Police are asking people to avoid isolated areas and to travel in well-lit areas.
54-year-old Lorenzo Lopez was one of the shooting victims. He died before the sun came up Tuesday while walking along the 900 block of Porter Avenue in Stockton.
“He was just a person who was out here at the wrong place at the wrong time at the wrong circumstance," said his brother Jerry Lopez. “It’s hard to process that this has happened. I mean me and my brother have been like twins. We were a year a part so we were pretty close.”
His family put together a candlelight vigil Friday near where Lorenzo took his last breath.
“We’re all taking this hard because of how much he meant to us in our lives," his sister Pia Lopez said, fighting back tears.
They said they hope someone with information comes forward soon to take the shooter or shooters off the street.
“Stockton needs to change," Jerry Lopez said. "People need to speak up because this has been happening too much.”
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Stockton police provide update on investigation into recent homicides
