Residents of Azusa, California were shocked by the arrest of an 81-year-old man named Prince King, who had been accused of being a “serial slingshot shooter” in the neighborhood. King, known as “Wick” by his neighbors, was described as a friendly and kind man. He was arrested after a long investigation by Azusa police into vandalism in the area, where ball bearings were fired through windows and windshields. Despite the arrest, neighbors found it hard to believe that King was responsible for the damage.
Following King’s arrest, police found a slingshot and ball bearings in his home, leading to his charges of seven cases of vandalism, five of them felonies. He was released from jail without bail and was scheduled to appear in court in June. While the police did not find a specific motive for King’s actions, neighbors reported finding BB’s on the ground and in their driveways. Despite the evidence, some residents still found it difficult to believe that King was responsible and thought there might be another explanation for the vandalism.
Neighbors described incidents of having windows shot out and hearing sounds of things being struck after King’s arrest. Some residents reported finding ball bearings in their driveways, and one resident recalled seeing a camera on King’s garage that appeared to be pointing directly at his home. King had been ordered to stay 200 yards away from several locations in Azusa, including his home on North Enid Avenue. Despite the charges against him, King pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations at a court appearance before his sudden death.
Court records showed that King had been involved in a property dispute with a woman regarding his father’s death in 2017. The woman and King were named as joint tenants, and an agreement was reached where King paid the woman for her interest. Neither the woman nor her lawyer responded to requests for comment. King’s neighbors remembered him as a friendly man who would often stop by for chats and bring treats for their pets. Despite the charges against him, they found it hard to believe that King would deliberately target his neighbors and cause damage to their property.
Following King’s death from heart disease, a sign was placed in his yard that said, “Stay Away Wick!” His home was sealed off with tape from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office. Despite the evidence implicating King in the vandalism, his neighbors still struggled to reconcile the allegations with the man they knew. Some residents recalled finding BBs on their property and heard sounds of things being struck, leading to suspicions that King might have been involved. King’s sudden death added further mystery to the case, leaving many questions unanswered about his motivations and actions.
