Suspected California serial killer charged with 4 additional slayings

The San Joaquin County District Attorney's office announced four additional murder charges against the suspected Stockton serial killer, bringing the death toll in the series of Northern California shootings to seven. 

Wesley Brownlee, 43, was originally charged in October with the shooting deaths of three Stockton residents. Prosecutors charged Brownlee on Tuesday with four additional murders and one attempted murder, court documents show.

"We would like to thank the community for their support and law enforcement for their diligent investigation and apprehension of the suspect," District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar said when announcing the new charges. 

Brownlee is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 3.

Authorities said the victims include Lawrence Lopez Sr., who died Sept. 27, 2022; Juan Cruz, who died Sept. 21, 2022; Jonathan Rodriguez Hernandez, who died Aug. 30, 2022; Salvador Debudey Jr., who died Aug. 11, 2022; Paul Yaw, who died July 22, 2022; Mervin Harmon, who died April 16, 2021; and Juan Alexander Vasquez, who died April 10, 2021.

Natasha Latour was shot on April 16, 2021, the same day as Harmon, and survived, the court filing states.