Tampa Bay Mayor Bob Buckhorn declared Monday night during a community meeting that law enforcement is going to hunt down and catch the "son of a bitch" suspected serial killer who has shot and killed three people within a one-mile radius in the past two weeks.
Around 400 people showed up at an elementary school auditorium to hear updates from city officials about their investigation into a suspected serial killer, and to ask questions about what safety precautions they should take, according to CBS News.
Police in Tampa, Florida, are intensifying their hunt for a possible serial killer. Dozens of officers are patrolling around the clock, looking for anything suspicious. They are also warning residents not to travel by themselves. Three people were shot and killed in the past two weeks while walking alone in the same neighborhood.
Not only have police increased patrols in this neighborhood, they've handed out lightbulbs to homeowners to keep their front porch lights on, reports CBS News correspondent Omar Villafranca. City crews are even replacing street lamps. The goal is to get rid of dark spots where someone could hide. People aren't relaxing until a suspect is caught.
Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told the crowd there was a "very good likelihood" that somebody in the auditorium knew who is behind the shootings and that he isn't willing to rule out anybody.
"This pains me to tell you that if you're out there walking alone, that you're either a suspect or a potential victim," Dugan said.
Buckhorn didn't hold back in asking for the public's help in finding the killer.
"We need you to call us and let us know what's going on. That's how we're gonna catch this guy. And we will hunt this son of a bitch down until we find him!" Buckhorn said.