This had been happening for a decade. Residents of North Enid Avenue in Azusa, California would find a broken window in their home or car and a telltale ball bearing nearby. Neighbors reported hundreds of dollars in damage.
Sometimes, more alarmingly, a bullet would whiz past someone outside, almost hitting them. It was, to say the least, a “quality of life issue,” as police put it.
It turns out the chaos was the work of a “serial slingshot,” according to police. And now, they say, they have finally captured him. He is 81 years old.
The suspect, Prince Raymond King, was arrested Thursday morning. A slingshot and ball bearings were found on his property, which is in the neighborhood where the crimes occurred, police said.
The neighbors were well aware of the problem. One of them showed local television station KABC TV two plastic bags containing pellets collected from a garden over the years.
“A lot of times I would go out and find little BBs near the front door, so I’m very happy that the person was caught,” another neighbor, Monica Palomino, told KNBC. Another neighbor, Dava Juan, told KCAL she saw Mr. Roi using a slingshot.
“We are not aware of any motive other than simple malicious mischief,” the lieutenant said. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Efforts to reach Mr. King or his lawyer were not successful. Mr King appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. He was ordered to stay away from his neighborhood after collecting items from his home and not to contact any of the victims, local media reported.
He was released without bail and asked to return to court on June 17.