Prince Raymond King, California serial shooter who terrorized neighborhood for decade, found dead after arrest

US News

By Richard Pollina

An elderly California man accused of terrorizing his neighbors with a slingshot for nearly a decade died Wednesday just days after being arrested and appearing in court.

Prince Raymond King, 81, was found dead in a home in Azusa, California, around 7:30 a.m., police told the Los Angeles Daily News.

The owner of the home King was found in is still unknown, but Azusa Police Sgt. Nick Covarrubias told the outlet there was no “evidence of foul play.”

King died of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease — which damages the arteries that carry oxygen from the heart — and it was ruled natural, according to the local medical examiner's office.

The gray-haired menace slowly made his way to West Covina Superior Court for his arraignment Tuesday, where he had pleaded not guilty.

King, who wears glasses, was accused of using his slingshot to careen metal ball bearings into his neighbors' homes and vehicles for the past nine years, according to ABC 7.

He was charged with five counts of felony vandalism and two counts of misdemeanor vandalism for allegedly targeting his neighbors' property with the slingshot – smashing numerous house windows and car windshields with the small projectile weapon at hand.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged King with vandalism in incidents that occurred between October 2021 and May 2024, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

However, neighbors claimed the King slingshot attacks have been happening since 2015.

Police determined the ball bearings came from him during their investigation and arrested the reckless neighbor on May 23.

Upon his arrest, police found the slingshot and 10 to 40 ball bearings in his possession, said Cpl. » Benjamin Cypher told the media outlet.

The slingshot vandal was released after his hearing on Tuesday when his lawyers argued he suffered from a number of illnesses.

However, he was ordered not to stay at his Azusa home – about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles – although he was allowed to return for medication.

King was also ordered to stay at least 200 yards away from homes he allegedly targeted, not have contact with any of the victims, and was ordered not to possess any deadly weapons, including his slingshot iconic.

“We've been here since 2018. (It's been going on) that long,” one of King's neighbors and alleged victim, James Mead, told the LA Daily News after King's arrest.

“To me it seems like a really good neighborhood, except for the broken windows,” Mead said.

He was due back in court June 17 for his preliminary hearing.