Police believe that they have found the man responsible for a string of stabbings in California. Itzcoatl Ocampo, an Iraq veteran, has been arrested and charged with the first degree murder of four homeless men.
CNN reports that the charges also carry the special circumstances of multiple murders, use of a deadly weapon, and lying in wait. Prosecutors have not yet decided if they will seek the death penalty.
If Ocampo is found guilty, the minimum sentence he will receive is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said:
“I’m not prepared to discuss a possible motive… We know he had selected others (to kill)… The fact that the violence was escalating and it was becoming more brazen suggested to me he wasn’t done. He appeared to me he liked the press coverage… This 23-year-old was a vicious killer. He had on his mind to kill people, and he followed through on that, and he was a monster, and he was a terrible threat, particularly to the homeless people in our county…”
The first victim was stabbed more than 40 times, and according to Rackauckas, the number of wounds increased with each victim.
CNN reports that Ocampo was arrested on Friday night after he allegedly killed his fourth victim. Friend’s of Ocampo were confused by his arrest. One said that “something happened” to Ocampo since he returned from Iraq.
Do you think Itzcoatl Ocampo should receive the death penalty if he is found guilty?
