Attacker killed 2 homeless men, wounded a third in San Diego, police say

San Diego police are searching for a man suspected of killing two homeless men and attacking a third in a string of violence Sunday and Monday near the 5 Freeway and Ocean Beach.

The unidentified man is linked to a burned body found under a freeway bridge in Bay Park on Sunday and a body found near Robb Athletic Field in Ocean Beach on Monday, according to the San Diego Police Department. Police released grainy images of the suspect taken from a convenience store camera and urged the public to help identify him.

The crimes began around 8:06 a.m. Sunday when the San Diego Police and Fire departments received a call about a fire in the 2700 block of Morena Boulevard. Authorities spotted the fire between the northbound 5 Freeway and the train tracks.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and discovered the badly burned body of a male adult.

“He is so badly burned, we can’t tell. We’re going to have to wait for an autopsy for any additional information,” said Lt. Manny Deltoro told Fox 5.

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A man had been seen earlier running from the area across the northbound lanes of the 5 to the center divider, police said. Witnesses said he was carrying a gas can within two blocks of the burn site. They described the man as between 30 and 50 years old wearing a tan or brown jacket or sweatshirt and a baseball cap. He was carrying a backpack.

At 4:51 a.m. Monday, officers found another man stabbed and bleeding near Greenwood and Kurtz streets. He is now in a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A few hours later, around 6 a.m., police received a 911 call, and responding officers found a man dead with injuries to his upper torso near Robb Athletic Field.

All three victims were believed to be transients who frequented the areas.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 619-531-2346.

Molnar writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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UPDATES:

9:22 a.m.: Updated with additional details.