An 81-year-old man from Azusa, California, accused of causing havoc in his neighborhood with a slingshot, has died shortly after being released from custody. Prince King, who had been charged with multiple counts of vandalism for reportedly using a slingshot to fire metal ball bearings at homes and vehicles, passed away on Wednesday at a private residence. His death came merely a day after he was released from jail, with the cause still unknown, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-coordinated reports by KABC.
King, dubbed by the local police as a "serial slingshot shooter," had reportedly been terrorizing the local community for nearly a decade. His arrest last Friday was the culmination of an extensive police investigation after numerous citizens reported damage from ball bearings to their windows and windshields. King was to quickly come to face the consequences of his alleged actions, being set for a preliminary court hearing on June 17. However, his unexpected passing has now brought an abrupt end to the legal proceedings. The Azusa Police Department communicated via Instagram that "dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshot shooter" – a statement echoed by KTLA and Hoodline.
The octogenarian, who was ailing with multiple medical conditions including heart and nerve issues, was released on his own recognizance Tuesday after pleading not guilty to the vandalism charges. His attorneys cited his health conditions as a contributing factor for the court's decision. While alive, King was also instructed to stay away from the affected homes and avoid any contact with the alleged victims. Additionally, he was ordered not to possess any deadly weapons, including slingshots, as reported by KABC.
The death of King has elicited mixed reactions from the community. While some residents expressed relief that the window-shattering barrage had ended, others remembered how the elderly man also "mainly ran off unwanted squatters," a sentiment captured in the comments on the police’s social media post. This divisive legacy is underscored by one local's accusation of King shooting their dog with ball bearings. The Azusa Police Department confirmed that there was no evidence of foul play regarding King's death. The man's impact on his neighborhood – as both a source of fear and, to some, a vigilante against trespassers – leaves behind a complex narrative, influenced by King's own troubled final chapter, according to details outlined by KTLA.
