Police in Azusa, California, arrested an 81-year-old man identified as Prince Raymond King, whom they referred to as a “serial slingshot shooter,” for allegedly striking windows, windshields, and nearly hitting people with ball bearings.
King was taken into custody on May 23 during a search warrant conducted in his neighborhood, as reported by the Azusa Police Department on Facebook. Upon searching King’s residence, officers discovered ball bearings and a slingshot.
The search warrant was issued following concerns about a “quality of life issue,” stated the department’s Facebook post. Azusa police revealed that their “lengthy investigation” uncovered a pattern of incidents over 9-10 years where numerous citizens fell victim to the actions of a serial slingshot shooter.
Azusa police Lieutenant Jake Bushey informed the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that no injuries had been reported due to King’s alleged activities.
The department had been investigating the slingshot incidents for several years without identifying a suspect. However, detectives eventually linked King to the crimes, noting that most of the ball bearings were fired from his backyard. Some shots were also traced back to a nearby neighborhood.
Lieutenant Bushey explained to the California-based outlet that the motive behind the incidents appeared to be “malicious mischief,” with no clear reason why specific properties or individuals were targeted.
Prince Raymond King is currently held at the Los Angeles County Jail without bail, according to inmate records.
