UPDATE
May 31, 2024 5:56 AM CDT
An 81-year-old man accused of being a "serial slingshot shooter" died Wednesday, days after his arrest on charges including felony vandalism. Authorities say Prince King, who had been ordered to stay 200 yards away from his home in Azusa, California, was found dead from natural causes at a private residence in the city, the BBC reports. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office listed the cause of death as heart disease, reports NBC News. Investigators say King broke neighbors' windows and windshields over the course of 10 years, apparently motivated only by "malicious mischief." He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and had been due to return to court on June 17.
May 28, 2024 7:24 PM CDT
Royally ticked-off neighbors in Azusa, California, are relieved that 81-year-old Prince King has been arrested. Police in the Los Angeles County city said in a Facebook post that after receiving reports of a "quality of life" issue, they "conducted a lengthy investigation and learned that during the course of 9-10 years, dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshot shooter." They said King was arrested last week after they executed a search warrant at his home and found ball bearings and a slingshot, USA Today reports.
Azusa police Lt. Jake Bushey said the slingshot shooter broke windows and windshields and almost hit people, but no injuries were reported, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. "We're not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief," Bushey said, adding that it's not clear why certain properties were apparently targeted. He said investigators determined that most of the ball bearings were fired from King's backyard.
story continues below
"Many times I came outside, and I would find little BBs by the front door, so I'm very glad the person was caught," Azusa resident Monica Palomino tells NBC Los Angeles. Dava Juan, another resident, says she saw King shoot the slingshot. "I couldn't believe he was arrested," she says. "It was pretty crazy." (More California stories.)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
