Man shot dead while walking to church may be fourth victim of serial killer

Police in Florida believe that a man who was shot dead while walking to church in Tampa may be the latest victim of a serial killer.

Ronald Felton was shot up to four times from behind whilst crossing the street on Tuesday (14 November) becoming the fourth such killing in a little over a month in Seminole Heights.

The 60-year-old was killed at North Nebraska Avenue at East McBerry Street just a few blocks away from a memorial honouring three people killed over a fortnight.

Felton, a construction worker, was killed at around 5am as he walked to the New Seasons Apostolic Church, where he volunteers to help the homeless.

"This has to stop. We will hunt this person down until we find them," Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said at a press conference according to the Bradenton Herald.

"We need to catch this killer before we have to notify one more family that their loved one is dead."

Three other people have been linked to this latest slaying; Benjamin Mitchell, 22, was shot dead at a bus stop, Monica Caridad Hoffa, 32, was walking to meet a friend when she was killed and Anthony Naiboa, 20, was an autistic man who was shot dead after getting on the wrong bus.

All four victims were killed between 9 October and 14 November and appear to have been randomly targeted by the gunman.

Police say they are treating the murders as "related" with Interim Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan saying the killer is believed to live in the nearby area.

"I know the big question is going to be is this related to the other Seminole Heights murders, and right now we are treating it as though it is related until we can treat it otherwise," he told reporters at the crime scene.

Detectives have been deploying search dogs to locate the suspect and Dugan has recommended residents stay at home with their doors locked.

"If you own a firearm, any type, we need you to go verify that it's where it's supposed to be, and if it's not, we need you to call us," Dugan added.

Officers are hunting a suspect described as a thin black male, dressed in all black and wearing a black baseball cap.