22-Year-Old California Man Shoots Arrows At Homeless Men, Charged With Attempted Murder

A 22-year-old man in California is currently facing charges of attempted murder for shooting arrows at a group of homeless individuals.

Addae Preciado was arrested Tuesday at the El Cerrito train station following his attacks on a homeless group in Richmond, Saturday morning. Preciado, who is originally from Albany, is also homeless. His attacks are speculated to have been targeted, according to East Bay Regional Park police.

As reported by the New York Post, authorities said that a woman and two men were attacked with arrows while staying at an area known for campsites of homeless individuals near the San Francisco Bay Trail, reports said. Although the woman was not hurt in the attack, both men were hit in the abdomen, with one man also being struck in the leg.

The men were taken to the hospital where they underwent surgery. Currently, the police report that victims are confirmed to be in stable conditions.

The weapon used in the attack was a gold-colored compound bow that is usually used for hunting and target practice. Investigators were able to recover the weapon.

According to the New York Post, Preciado is currently being held without bail at the Alameda County Santa Rita Jail. He is to be arraigned Thursday and faces two counts of attempted murder. Reports have not confirmed if he’s hired an attorney.

Violence against homeless people is on the rise. Last month, Randy Rodriguez Santos was arrested and charged for killing four homeless men in Chinatown, New York City. According to reports he was arrested while still walking around with the murder weapon. He was charged with four counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree attempted murder.

There are more than half a million individuals who are homeless in America. Many of them face other obstacles besides lack of shelter: serious health risks, exposure to weather extremities, and disease all add to the dangers of homelessness. With the continuing rise in numbers, violence is also plaguing these individuals--who now are forced to fear for their safety. In Los Angeles alone there are over 50,000 homeless individuals. In New York City there are even more individuals who are at risk--with more than 80,000 homeless.

Programs and initiatives are being placed in various areas to decrease and ultimately eliminate these dangers.