SAN DIEGO — Police have arrested a man suspected in a series of attacks on homeless people in San Diego. <br /> <br />Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, was arrested Thursday, July 7 in Chula Vista and charged with murder and attempted murder. <br /> <br />San Diego Police Department Homicide Division Capt. David Nisleit held a press conference stating, “At this time, we have probable cause to arrest Mr. Padgett for these heinous crimes.” <br /> <br />The spree began Sunday, July 3, when police found the badly burned remains of Angelo De Nardo, 53, between an interstate highway and train tracks. Witnesses said they saw a man on fire running down the train tracks and another man running away carrying a gas can. <br /> <br />The next day, officers responding to a 911 call found Manuel Mason, 61, who suffered life-threatening injuries to his upper torso and remained in critical condition, Thursday. <br /> <br />A few hours later, police discovered the body of Shawn Longley, 41, who bled from the upper torso and died. <br /> <br />A fourth victim was found on Wednesday, July 6. Authorities found a man ablaze on the ground across from the federal courthouse downtown. A burning towel was found on the victim, a 23-year-old man, who was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive. <br /> <br />The motives for the attacks are unknown. <br /> <br />Padgett said in interviews when he was arrested that he was not guilty. But, according to NBC, sources confirmed Padgett was arrested in 2010 for setting a homeless man on fire.
