SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - In light of the recent attacks on San Diego's homeless, police and homeless advocacy groups took the streets to urge the homeless to remain vigilant, avoid sleeping alone on the streets and remain in open, well-lit areas.
On Monday, police and advocacy groups handed out fliers with information regarding the recent attacks. Many on the streets were unaware of the danger they now face.
An unidentified assailant set a transient on fire near Horton Plaza Wednesday morning in the fourth attack in a four-day spree of violence that has left two other homeless men dead and a third severely injured.
The assaulted man was hospitalized with critical injuries.
Investigators believe that whoever carried out the downtown assault also is responsible for three similar attacks this week.
The body of the first victim in the series, 53-year-old Angelo De Nardo of San Diego, was found in flames in an open area off the 2700 block of Morena Boulevard in Bay Park about 8 a.m. Sunday. An autopsy determined that he had been killed prior to being set ablaze. Police have declined to release his cause of death.
Shortly before 5 a.m. Monday, a second homeless man was found bleeding from stab wounds to his upper body in the 3700 block of Greenwood Street, near Valley View Casino Center in the Midway district. He was hospitalized in critical condition but was expected to survive.
Less than 90 minutes later, another transient was found dead in the 2500 block of Bacon Street in Ocean Beach, about three miles from the scene of the second assault, according to police. His name has not been released.
Anyone with information about the cases was asked to call police at (619) 531-2293. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, or by contacting the agency via email at sdcrimestoppers.org.