Stockton announces arrest in California serial killings. ‘He was on a mission to kill’

Police and city officials announced an arrest Saturday in connection with the series of killings that has gripped a California city and national headlines.

Six people were gunned down in the deadly string — five in Stockton and one in Oakland — stretching back to 2021. All are tied, police said earlier this month, to a single weapon and one suspect.

That suspect, identified as 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee, is a resident of Stockton and now in police custody. He was arrested around 2 a.m., authorities said at a news conference at Stockton Police Department headquarters Saturday afternoon.

“This is still very active investigation,” said police Chief Stanley McFadden. In announcing the arrest following overnight surveillance, the chief added, “We are sure we stopped another killing.”

Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln said “we will use every resource at our disposal” to make sure the people of Stockton are protected and feel safe.

“Our unhoused population here in the city of Stockton will be able to rest a little bit easier tonight as we take the next steps towards getting them help and healing in their lives,” Lincoln said.

Brownlee, who authorities say has a criminal history, was observed driving near Village Green Drive and Winslow Way around 2 a.m. McFadden said officers saw Brownlee wearing black clothing, had a mask around his neck — similar to video surveillance seen in one of the killings. McFadden added that Brownlee was armed when he was arrested.

“He was on a mission to kill. He was out hunting,” said McFadden, who attributed the break in the case to “community tips and good old-fashioned police work.”

“Based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers, we were able to zero in on a possible suspect,” McFadden said.

A surveillance team followed Brownlee as he drove, watching his patterns before initiating a traffic stop, McFadden said. Police also searched his home after obtaining a warrant.

After taking a moment of silence for the victims, San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar said that her deputy district attorneys are reviewing the evidence and working actively in partnership with the investigation to determine Brownlee’s charges.

“The defendant — because I’m no longer ever going to say his name again; he doesn’t deserve to have a name — will be arraigned in court Tuesday afternoon at 1:30,” Verber-Salazar said, adding that there will be a press conference after to announce and discuss the charges.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a written statement that he’s grateful for the work of the Stockton Police Department and law enforcement agencies who lent their support to this investigation.

“Because of our collaborative work, the citizens of Stockton and California communities can feel comfort in knowing that this suspect is now in custody,” Bonta said.

It remains unclear why the victims were targeted. None were robbed or beaten, and the five Stockton killings all took place within a few square miles of each other.

In some of the crimes, the suspect was described as 5-foot-10 to 6 feet, dressed in dark clothing and donning a black cap, and was seen walking with an even stride and upright posture.

The first fatal shooting was in Oakland in April 2021. The woman was wounded in Stockton days later. More than a year passed, then the five killings in Stockton took place between July 8 and Sept. 27, all within a radius of a few square miles, police said.

There was a $125,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, but it’s not immediately clear if anyone will collect it.

The first killing targeted Juan Vasquez Serrano, 39, in Oakland at around 4:15 a.m. on April 10, 2021. He was shot multiple times, according to the Alameda County coroner’s bureau. It was not immediately clear if he was alone when he was killed.

In the nonfatal attack, the 46-year-old woman told investigators that she was inside her tent on April 16, 2021 at about 3:20 a.m. when she heard someone walking around outside.

The San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner identified the Stockton victims as Paul Yaw, 35, who died July 8; Salvador Debudey Jr., 43, who died Aug. 11; Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21, who died Aug. 30; Juan Cruz, 52, who died Sept. 21; and Lawrence Lopez Sr., 54, who died Sept. 27.

A ballistics investigation revealed a 448-day break between the second and third victims and the rapidly closing gaps between victims thereafter: 34 days, then 19, then just six days as the death toll continued to mount.

Police said four of the Stockton homicide victims were walking alone and a fifth was in a parked car when they were killed in the evening or early morning.

This story was originally published October 15, 2022 at 3:17 PM.