Michael Player: The Skid Row Slayer
Early Life
Michael Player, born in 1960, had a troubled past marked by criminal activities. Operating under the alias Marcus Nisby, he faced multiple prosecutions by Californian authorities in the late 1970s. His criminal record included:
- Robbery conviction in the early 1980s.
- Arrest in October 1983 for attempted theft, resulting in a six-month prison sentence.
- Arrest in the summer of 1984 for illegal possession of weapons, leading to a two-year imprisonment.
- Parole violations in 1985, culminating in a 60-day prison sentence in July 1985.
Murder Spree
In 1986, Michael Player embarked on a series of brutal murders in Los Angeles' Skid Row area, targeting primarily homeless individuals. His modus operandi involved attacking victims from behind and shooting them execution-style during the early hours. The timeline of his known victims is as follows:
- September 4, 1986: Rudolfo Roque, 54, not homeless, visiting from San Diego. Shot in the back of the head.
- September 9, 1986: Rick Stamps, 66, homeless. Shot while sleeping.
- September 13, 1986: Rojello Sirven, 31, homeless. Shot while sleeping.
- September 13, 1986: Joseph Griffin, 47, homeless. Shot while sleeping; initially survived but died on October 5 due to complications.
- September 20, 1986: Marshall Singer, 66, homeless. Shot in the back of the head.
- September 23, 1986: David Towns, 36, homeless. Shot in the back of the head.
- September 30, 1986: Christopher Boyle, 25, homeless. Shot in the back of the head.
- September 30, 1986: Leon Gaines, 56, homeless. Shot in the back of the head.
- October 7, 1986: Chang Kang, 23, visiting from Texas. Shot in the back of the head.
- October 8, 1986: Wayne Ellis, 44, homeless. Shot while sleeping in Athens Park.
Attempted Murder and Identification
On October 9, 1986, Player attempted to kill
Terrence Dunn, who managed to survive and provided authorities with a description. This led to the creation of a composite sketch, aiding in Player's identification.
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