Photo Courtesy of Stockton Police Department
A California man, Wesley Brownlee, has been charged in connection to a string of murders that have terrorized the community.
43-year-old Brownlee from Stockton, was initially arrested on October 18, 2022 by the Stockton Police Department and charged with the murders of Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, Juan Cruz and Lawrence Lopez Sr.
On Tuesday, he was charged with four additional counts of murder for Juan Alexander Vasquez on Mervin Harmon, Paul Yaw and Salvador Debudey Jr, making his official serial killer title.
Brownlee is now officially charged with one count of attempted murder of Natasha LaTour, the only survivor of the slayings, and seven counts of murder across Alameda, San Joaquin and Stockton counties.
According to ABC News, Brownlee is a convicted drug offender and was not allowed to own a gun.
In January 1999, Brownlee was sentenced to two years in prison in Alameda County for possessing and selling a controlled substance. He was released on parole in August 1999 after serving seven months.
Brownlee was sentenced to three years for the same crime in 2001, paroled in 2003 and discharged three years later.
Related Story: Miami Realtor And Suspected Serial Killer Arrested For Murders Of Homeless Men
Brownlee’s arrest has brought some relief to the community, which has been on edge due to the string of unsolved shootings. However, many are still shaken by the violence and the realization that a serial killer was operating in their midst.
District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar said in a statement, “The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office continues to collaborate with our local law enforcement agencies to ensure justice for these victims. We would like to thank the community for their support and law enforcement for their diligent investigation and apprehension of the suspect.”