Public safety incident

Authorities in Lansing, Michigan, are investigating the terrifying possibility of a serial killer after five unhoused men were found brutally attacked along a 20-mile stretch of a local river trail. The victims, all white men ranging in age from 22 to 70, are believed to have been specifically targeted and attacked overnight while they were lying down or sleeping. The disturbing string of violence began about a year ago, with three of the five deaths already officially ruled as homicides. The attacks have been exceptionally violent, leaving the victims with severe injuries including broken ribs, deep facial lacerations, stab wounds, and a crushed skull. While police have not officially declared that a single serial killer is on the loose, they acknowledge a chilling "pattern of attack" targeting the city's vulnerable homeless population. Authorities currently have one suspect in custody connected to at least one of the murders. In response to the killings, the city has ramped up police patrols and installed additional surveillance cameras along the trail as the investigation continues.