A man believed to be the so-called Western Bandit, suspected in a roughly three-year string of violent crimes along a stretch of Western Avenue from Hollywood to South Los Angeles that included two murders, was in custody today.
Patrick Watkins, 51, was arrested Thursday at his apartment in the South Los Angeles area and was booked on suspicion of two counts of murder and at least 24 counts of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Watkins was being held without bail, according to the sheriff’s department.
“In some ways, just calling him a bandit doesn’t begin to capture the fear and the actions of this man,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference at LAPD headquarters.
“He’s a cold-blooded killer, somebody who terrorized the streets of Los Angeles for too long,” Garcetti said. “But with this arrest, the streets of Los Angeles become a little bit safer for all of us.”
Detectives believe Watkins is responsible for the shooting deaths of a man named Larise Smith, 56, on Dec. 8, 2014, in the 2800 block of West 42nd Street; and Nathan “Cassidy” Vickers, a 32-year-old transgender woman believed to have been working as a prostitute, on Nov. 17, 2011 near Lexington Avenue and Gower Street.
He is also suspected in a number of armed robberies of individuals and businesses including convenience stores. The crimes generally occurred between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., along an eight-mile stretch of Western Avenue, according to police.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said DNA evidence helped lead investigators to Watkins. A handgun believed to have been used in the homicides and the armed robberies was recovered by police, Beck said.
LAPD Capt. William Hayes said Watkins would approach a potential victim, fire shots — many times wounding the victim — and then rob the person. He said there was no indication victims were targeted based on gender.
The last crime that detectives specifically tied to Watkins was the Smith murder in December, Hayes said.
Watkins was believed to have generally worn dark clothing during the crimes and was often seen riding a bicycle.
