San Diego police are looking for a man thought to be responsible for attacks on homeless people.
San Diego police are on the lookout for a man thought to be responsible for a series of gruesome attacks on homeless people, two of whom have died.
The latest assault took place early on Wednesday when witnesses reported seeing someone crouched over what they initially thought was a burning heap of clothing in the California town.
A bystander then realized that a person was actually on fire and ran over and pulled a burning towel off the victim, captain David Nisleit, of the San Diego homicide unit, told reporters.
The man was rushed to hospital with critical injuries to his upper torso.
Nisleit said investigators believe that whoever carried out the attack was also behind three similar attacks since early Sunday that have left two other homeless men dead and one severely injured.
"I can tell you we are absolutely convinced these cases are linked, and we will continue to work them as a series," Nisleit said.
"This is a person that we need removed from the community as fast as we can," he added, noting that the attacks appeared random.
The first victim was found on Sunday morning after witnesses reported seeing a man on fire running down train tracks.
Witnesses reported seeing a man fleeing the scene carrying a gas canister.
Early Monday, a second homeless man was found bleeding from stab wounds and was hospitalized in critical condition. Shortly thereafter another transient was found dead about three miles away.
Nisleit advised the city's homeless population to remain vigilant and avoid sleeping alone.
He said the attacks had been extremely unsettling for the homeless population as well as police.