Kent Police say the search for a suspect in two killings at a transient camp remains a top priority with eight detectives assigned full-time to the case.
Louisa Campos, 32, and Robert Dias, 50, were killed in the shootings last Friday and Saturday, Assistant Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in an update about the case on Tuesday night to the City Council.
Police found Campos, who had been shot to death, last Friday in a remote wooded area in the 22200 block of 88th Avenue Southeast, just east of Highway 167. On Saturday, police found Dias, who had been shot to death in the same basic area, according to a police media release.
“This is the most important thing that the police department is doing right now,” Padilla said. “We have committed all available resources and we are doing every possible thing to find the suspect and bring him to justice. We have a total of 16 detectives for the city and eight of those detectives have been assigned to this case alone to work this nonstop and to follow every lead.”
A suspect in these cases has been described as a white male, with short reddish hair and an unshaven appearance. The suspect may be riding a dark-colored bicycle with a basket over the rear wheel and was last seen wearing a white tank top. A weapon in these cases has not been recovered. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by the public.
“We do believe that the reasons for the killings were specific to the victims and this was not a random act,” Padilla said. “We believe these two acts are linked and are committed by the same person or persons.”
Padilla said the department also had pulled in its special investigations and bicycle units to help find witnesses and locate the suspect.
“We believe this case is very solvable and it’s just a matter of time before we get the right information from some good community member that comes forward, gives us that piece that we’re missing and we put this together and get the suspect in custody,” Padilla said.
Padilla asked anyone with information about the case to call 911.
Police were unaware that the homeless camp existed until the shootings, he said. The site included several tents.
“This is an active investigation so I have to be careful not to impede the investigation,” Padilla said about what facts he could share.
The assistant chief said police learned a bit about Campos and Dias during initial interviews.
“We’ve had the opportunity as part of the investigation to speak to several people that know them and they all had very nice things to say,” Padilla said. “We extend our condolences to them and their family members for their loss.”
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