Elderly slingshot shooter nabbed after a decade of terrorising California neighbourhood

Police in Southern California have apprehended an octogenarianman, Prince King, described as a "serial slingshot shooter" suspected of terrorising his neighbourhood for nearly ten years.

He was finally held when Azusa police were called to the 900 block of North Enid Avenue regarding a "quality of life issue."

Over the past nine to ten years, many residents reported incidents involving a slingshot that took place in theneighbourhood.

Reports suggested that he resorted to smashing windows and damaging windshields of residents. Not only that, he sometimes came very close to hitting pedestrians inAzusa.

Lieutenant Jake Bushey of the Azusa police stated that initial slingshot incidents had been under investigation for years, but identifying a suspect proved challenging.

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"We just didn't identify who the suspect was," Bushey said while noting that detectives eventually traced most of the ball bearings to King's backyard or a nearby area.

Upon executing a search warrant at King's residence, police discovered a slingshot and ball bearings, which led to his arrest.

His home in Azusa is approximately 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

King is currently held without bail at the county’s men's central jail.

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Reports citingLos Angeles County Sheriff's Office booking informationindicated that he is charged with a felony crime.

Motive for slingshot attacks unclear

Bushey commented on the ongoing nature of the incidents saying, "We're not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief," and added that while the attacks weren't random, the reason behind targeting specific people or properties remains unclear.

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The police gave out the information in a Facebook post.

Some people reacted to thepost and mentioned that their car windows had been shot out. However, they could not definitively link King to these incidents.

The decade-long mystery of slingshot attacks that plagued the Azusa neighbourhood has finally progressed in its legal course and now the court appearance of the 81-year-old is set for Tuesday (May 28).

(With inputs from agencies)