Charges were filed this week in Dept. 30 of the Criminal Courts Building for a man believed to be the so-called “Western Bandit” suspected of a three-year string of violent crimes along Western Avenue from South L.A. to Hollywood.
Patrick Watkins, 51, was charged this week with two counts of murder and more than two dozen counts of attempted murder. He is being held without bail.
The district attorney’s office was expected to file an additional 13 counts of assault with a firearm, five counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle, and four counts of second-degree robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. The charges also include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, making Watkins eligible for the death penalty. The DA’s office said it would decide later whether to seek the death penalty.
“In some ways, just calling him a bandit doesn’t begin to capture the fear and the actions of this man,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “With this arrest, the streets of Los Angeles will become a little safer for all of us.”
LAPD detectives believe Watkins is responsible for the shooting deaths of Lorise Smith, 56, on Dec. 8, 2014 in the 2800 block of West 42nd Street in South L.A., and Nathan “Cassidy” Vickers, a 32-year-old transgender woman believed to have been working as a prostitute, on Nov. 7, 2011 near Lexington Avenue and Gower Street in Hollywood. Watkins is also suspected in a number of armed robberies of individuals and businesses along Western Avenue including convenience stores.
The LAPD said the crimes generally occurred between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Chief Charlie Beck said DNA evidence helped to capture Watkins, as well as a handgun allegedly used in the homicides and armed robberies. Capt. William Hayes said Watkins would reportedly be on a bicycle and approach a potential victim, fire shots—many times wounding a victim—and then rob the person. Hayes said there is no indication that the victims were targeted because of gender.
