Police Arrest 81-Year-Old ‘Serial Slingshot Shooter’

Residents of a Southern California neighborhood can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that a suspected vandal in the neighborhood has been arrested. His weapon of choice wasn’t a gun or a knife, but a slingshot. 

Prince Raymond King, an 81-year-old man in Azusa, California, was arrested after authorities executed a search warrant on his home on suspicion of terrorizing the neighborhood with a slingshot. In a news release, Azusa police said they “conducted a lengthy investigation and learned that during the course of nine to 10 years, dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshot shooter.” According to Azusa PD, “the unknown suspect broke windows, windshields, and almost stuck people with ball bearings.” Police found a slingshot and ball bearings upon searching King’s home. 

Azusa police lieutenant Jake Bushey told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune that officers initially began investigating when the first incident happened nearly a decade ago. “It’s been ongoing for many years because we just didn’t identify who the suspect was,” he said. 

According to Bushey, detectives learned in their investigation that most of the ball bearings were shot from King’s backyard and others were launched from “a nearby neighborhood.” His motive remains unclear “other than just malicious mischief.” He was booked into jail on no bail and was scheduled for a court appearance on May 28. 

Even the most seemingly harmless “malicious mischief” can have real-life consequences.