MURDER VICTIMS
Allowing the seriously mentally ill and drug-addicted to live on the streets without treatment or supervision threatens public safety. Occasionally, in the grip of psychosis, these addicts brutally attack others without provocation. Attacks are random and sometimes fatal. Victims are often women and the elderly, although anyone can be a target. Beyond the tragic and senseless loss of innocent lives, this unpredictable violence makes public spaces less welcoming and degrades the quality of life for all residents.
Michelle Alyssa Go
January 15, 2022
New York, New York
Michelle Go was 40 years old, had a career in finance, enjoyed international travel, and was a committed volunteer with the New York Junior League, where she worked with disadvantaged women and children.
Michelle was waiting on a subway platform when Martial Simon, a homeless man, pushed her in front of an oncoming train.
Brianna Kupfer
January 13, 2022
Los Angeles, California
Brianna was 24 years old and a graduate student pursuing a degree in architectural design.
Brianna was working at a furniture boutique when Shawn Laval Smith, a homeless man, entered the store and stabbed her to death. Smith had a long history of violent crimes, including weapons and assault charges.
Sandra Shells
January 13, 2022
Los Angeles, California
Sandra Shells was still working at 70 years old as a nurse in the emergency department, and was admired by her coworkers for her compassion and dedication to the job.
Sandra was on her way to work, waiting for the bus, when she was punched and knocked to the ground by Kerry Bell, a homeless man. She died of her injuries a few days later in the very hospital where she worked.
Kristal Bayron-Nieves
January 9, 2022
New York, New York
Kristal Bayron-Nieves was 19 years old, had just earned her GED, and was saving money to buy a car.
Kristal was working as a cashier at Burger King when Winston Glynn, a homeless man, came into the restaurant and shot her to death.
Martin Andara
January 1, 2022
San Diego, California
Martin Andara was 68 years old, a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Martin was known for his sense of humor and loved biking and classic cars.
Martin was waiting to catch the train to go to his job at a grocery store when Ryan Rukstelis, a homeless man, pushed him into an oncoming train.
Matthew Allen
December 27, 2021
Vallejo, California
Matthew Allen was 55 years old, loved classic cars, and entered many car shows.
Matthew confronted Yolanda Harris, a homeless woman, while she was trying to break into his girlfriend’s car, and she shot him to death.
Benjamin Vasquez Bulux
December 23, 2021
New York, New York
Benjamin Bulux was 29 years old, worked as a cook, played the saxophone, and loved to play soccer.
Benjamin was walking home from church when Raymond Kenner, a homeless man, stabbed him to death.
Andrew Cunje
December 21, 2021
New York, New York
Andrew Cunje was 25 years old and was looking forward to visiting with his family on Christmas, who had travelled to New York from Guyana for the holidays.
Andrew was walking a block from his home when Raymond Kenner, a homeless man, stabbed him to death.
Lizseh Casserly
November 27, 2021
New York, New York
Lizseh Casserly was 32 years old, a mother of two, and a pharmacy technician.
Lizseh was walking home from a friend’s birthday party when Damari Bowles, a homeless man, stabbed her to death.
Ryan Rogers
November 16, 2021
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Ryan Rogers was 14 years old, a freshman in high school, and an active soccer player.
Ryan was out on a bike ride when Semmie Williams, a homeless man, stabbed him to death. The killer had an extensive criminal history, including multiple violent crimes.
Joseph Paul Gomez
September 10, 2021
Anaheim, California
Joseph Gomez was 46 years old and a father, made friends easily, and was a die-hard LA Angels fan. He had just started a new job as a security guard a few weeks prior to his murder.
Joseph was stabbed to death by Andrew Isaiah Godinez, a homeless man, behind the strip mall where he worked.
Mary Tibbitts
September 3, 2021
Sacramento, California
Mary Tibbitts was 61 years old, a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews, an active volunteer for many organizations, a devout Catholic, and a 49ers fan.
Mary was at home when Troy Davis, a homeless man, raped her, killed her, killed her two dogs, and set her house on fire. The killer had multiple previous convictions for assault.
Jessica Vilaythong
September 1, 2021
Chicago, Illinois
Jessica Vilaythong was 24 years old and a recent college graduate who had just moved into an apartment with her long-time partner.
Jessica was in the lobby of the bank branch where she worked when Jawaun Westbrooks, a homeless man, entered the branch and stabbed her to death. In 2014, the man had attacked two women with a hammer, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Anat Kimchi
June 19, 2021
Chicago, Illinois
Anat Kimchi was 31 years old and working towards a PhD in criminology at the University of Maryland.
Anat was visiting Chicago and walking on the sidewalk when Tony Robinson, a homeless man, stabbed her to death.
Daisy “Jupiter” Paulsen
June 4, 2021
Fargo, North Dakota
Jupiter Paulsen was only 14 years old, played guitar and viola, and had just finished eighth grade.
Jupiter was skateboarding to her mom’s house when Arthur Kollie, a homeless man, stabbed her to death.
Yao Pan Ma
April 23, 2021
New York, New York
Yao Pan Ma was 61 years old and a father. He and his wife immigrated to New York from China in 2018, and he was working in a restaurant kitchen until the business closed when the city locked down in March 2020.
Yao was collecting cans to earn money for his family when Jarrod Powell, a homeless man with many previous assault arrests, knocked him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly in the head. Yao was placed in a medically induced coma in the hospital and died from his injuries eight months later.
Ke Chieh Meng
April 4, 2021
Riverside, California
Ke Chieh Meng was 64 years old, a mother, and a grandmother. Ke was an immigrant who had worked as a waitress for 22 years, putting her son through college, and was a talented gardener and cook.
Ke was stabbed to death by Darlene Montoya, a homeless woman, while out walking her dogs. The killer had been arrested and immediately released less than a week earlier for assaulting another woman.
Gabriel Donnay
March 29, 2021
Los Angeles, California
Gabriel Donnay was 31 years old, worked as a data scientist during the day, and pursued a promising musical career with the band Satchmode on nights and weekends.
Gabriel was in his own backyard when Enoch Conners, a homeless man, came onto the property and stabbed him to death.
Jeanne Edgar
March 25, 2021
Los Angeles, California
Jeanne Edgar was 66 years old, had two grown sons, and loved nature and dogs.
Jeanne and her dog Sashi were stabbed to death by Ricardo Saldivar, a homeless man, while they were on a midday walk in the park.
John DeCindis
February 8, 2021
Los Angeles, California
John DeCindis was 76 years old, an avid photographer, adventurer, and dog lover, and a steadfast brother, friend, and neighbor.
John was walking his dog when he was punched and knocked to the ground by Obie Thompson, a homeless man. John was hospitalized and died of his injuries a couple of weeks later.
Joshua Thavisack
January 16, 2021
Sacramento, California
Joshua Thavisack was only 18 years old and a recent high school graduate.
Joshua had stopped at the bank after work to deposit his paycheck when Roosevelt Hardley, a homeless man, stabbed him to death in the parking lot.
Charles Edward Aragon
December 25, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Charlie Aragon was 77 years old, a father and grandfather, and beloved by his neighbors and many siblings, nieces, and nephews.
Charlie was coming home from picking up coffee on Christmas Day when he saw a neighbor being harassed by a homeless man. Charlie intervened and the homeless man struck him, knocking him to the ground. Charlie died of his injuries several days later. The attacker has not been identified or caught.
Jesus Valdivia Jimenez
October 28, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Jesus Jimenez was 71 years old and waiting at a streetlight when Dylan Brumley, a homeless man, tried to steal his bike. Dylan knocked Jesus to the ground, causing him to strike his head on the concrete. Jesus was hospitalized and died of his injuries a few days later.
Diana “Nelly” Baez
June 24, 2020
Maywood, California
Nelly Baez was 26 years old and working two jobs to support herself.
Nelly was working as a clerk at an ARCO gas station when Kevin Gomez, a homeless man, entered the store and stabbed her to death.
Leo Hainzl
May 25, 2020
San Francisco, California
Leo Hainzl was 94 years old, retired, and known around the neighborhood for walking his dog daily and still being handy with tools in his old age.
Leo was walking his dog when Peter Rocha, a homeless man, attacked him with a stick, causing him to fall and hit his head. Leo died at the hospital a few hours later.
Johnathan Aguilar
January 3, 2020
Austin, Texas
Johnathan Aguilar was 34 years old, a husband, and a father.
Johnathan was in the restaurant where he worked as the kitchen manager when Dylan Woodburn, a homeless man, ran into the restaurant and stabbed him to death.
Homer Garcia
January 1, 2020
Los Angeles, California
Homer Garcia was 56 years old and a talented musician who played guitar and wrote his own music.
Homer was eating breakfast in a restaurant when Devan Cleef Lampkin, a homeless man who was also dining in the restaurant, stabbed him to death.
Ruth George
November 23, 2019
Chicago, Illinois
Ruth George was 19 years old and was a sophomore at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she was studying to become a physical therapist.
Ruth was walking to her car in a parking garage when Donald Thurman, a homeless man on parole for robbery, raped her and strangled her to death.
Margery Magill
August 27, 2019
Washington, DC
Margery Magill was 27 years old and building a career in food security, international agriculture, and women’s empowerment.
Margery was taking a dog on a walk, a side job she did for extra cash, when she was stabbed to death by Eliyas Aregahegne, a man with a history of homelessness and mental illness.
Julius Rondez
July 2, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Julius Rondez was 70 years old and married with three children and five grandchildren. He was a beloved coworker at the LA Department of Water and Power, where he had worked for over 30 years.
Julius was leaving the office for the evening when Gerson Carrillotorres, a homeless man, punched him and knocked him to the ground. Julius struck his head on the pavement and died of his injuries.
Armida Castro
April 13, 2019
Oxnard, California
Armida Castro was 71 years old, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She had immigrated to the US as a young woman, worked for years as a house cleaner, and eventually built her own cleaning business.
Armida was getting out of her car when Adam Barcenas, a homeless man, punched her, knocked her down, and kicked her. She was hospitalized and died a week later as a result of her injuries.
Nia Wilson
July 22, 2018
Oakland, California
Nia Wilson was 18 years old, a high school cheerleader, worked at a distribution center, and was planning to graduate with her high school diploma in a few months.
Nia was waiting with her two sisters at a train station when John Cowell, a homeless man, stabbed her to death.
Marjorie Ellen Gawitt
March 11, 2019
Carlsbad, California
Marjorie Gawitt was 63 years old, a mother and grandmother. Marjorie worked as an IT project manager and enjoyed traveling, the beach, and her monthly book club.
Marjorie was sleeping when Ian Bushee and Malissa James, both homeless people, broke into her home and stabbed her to death.
William Joy
June 10, 2018
Billings, Montana
William Joy was 81 years old, a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. William was a retired sheriff and a dedicated volunteer in the community.
William was leaving the post office when Donald Gray, a homeless man, carjacked him and stabbed him to death.
Anthony Mele
April 18, 2018
Ventura, California
Anthony Mele was 35 years old, a father, and worked hard to support his family as an AT&T branch manager.
Anthony was sitting in a restaurant with his 5-year-old daughter in his lap when Jamal Jackson, a homeless man, walked into the restaurant and stabbed him to death.
Marques Gaines
February 7, 2016
Chicago, Illinois
Marques Gaines was 32 years old, was a popular bartender at the Chicago Mariott Hotel, and was a talented writer and dancer.
Marques was walking out of a 7-11 after an evening out with friends when Marcus Moore, a homeless man with multiple felonies on his record, punched him in the face. The blow knocked him unconscious and left him lying in the street, where a taxi drove over him and killed him.