Police identify man charged in connection with attacks on homeless in D.C, New York City

Authorities have identified the person charged in connection with a series of attacks on homeless men in New York City and Washington, D.C., as a 30-year-old male with criminal record a purported mental health issues.

The person arrested is Gerald Brevard III, 30, of Washington, according to authorities.

Brevard was arrested early Tuesday morning walking near a gas station in Southeast D.C. by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents.

He was charged later that day with first-degree murder for allegedly killing 54-year-old Morgan Holmes as he slept in a tent in D.C. on March 9. Brevard is also facing charges for shooting homeless men on March 3 and 8 in the District.

A federal judge Wednesday ordered Brevard held on the charges.

Holmes' body was found burned so badly by fire that investigators did not see he had been stabbed and shot, which an autopsy would later reveal, according to The New York Times.

Authorities also suspect Brevard is connected to two March 12 attacks on homeless men in New York's Lower Manhattan area. One man was fatally shot and the other was wounded, but Brevard has not been charged in connection with the crimes.

Brevard father says his son is mentally ill.

"It was an incredible amount of detective work, science, and community support. It’s a demonstration of how quickly we can close homicide cases when all three of those things are working together," D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said.

Investigators linked Brevard to the attacks through at least one tip, gun shell casings and his Instagram account, The Times also reports.

The department expects to pay out a $70,000 reward for information that led to the arrest.

Brevard's motive remains unclear and he is not believed to have had any type of previously established connection to his victims. 

The suspect has a lengthy criminal history. Prosecutors say he was arrested in Maryland in 2014 on a robbery charge and in Washington in 2019 on charges of attempted assault with a knife. He is also on probation in an assault and battery case in Virginia.