Anaheim Police Release ID Of Suspect In Homeless Man's Slaying
ANAHEIM (CBS) — Police Saturday released the name of the man suspected in the slaying of a homeless man in Anaheim.
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The suspect, identified by Anaheim police as 23-year-old Itzcoatl Ocampo of Yorba Linda, was booked at the Anaheim Police Department for murder.
Joy Benedict, reporting for KCAL9 at 8 a.m., said police interrogated Ocampo well into the morning hours.
He was arrested a short time after the 8:30 p.m. stabbing Friday in Anaheim. The attack occurred near a Carl's Jr. near Imperial Highway.
Police tell CBS2 that they received numerous calls about an assault in progress. Upon arrival, authorities pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
According to authorities, some Good Samaritans saw the attack and were able to follow the suspect long enough to provide critical information to investigators who did make an arrest a short time later.
The victim, identified by friends as John, was a Vietnam Veteran who frequented the area. He was well known in the community and well liked.
Once word spread of the attack, friends of John arrived on scene seeking answers.
"He was just like the kindest person ever. A homeless man that never asked for anything, never begged. He stuck to his own thing. He was perfectly happy," Chris Juarez said.
Friends of John also told CBS2 that he spoke to police days before his death fearful for his life.
Jim Burke, a friend of the victim's, said that John told him he felt he was being followed Wednesday.
"John said that he kept the bike between him and this man as his line of defense and he got a good look at him," he said.
Meantime, police are investigating if this attack is at all linked to three other slayings of homeless persons.
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