NYC’s homeless community ‘terrified’ as ‘serial killer’ targets rough sleepers on street after subway crackdown

A SUSPECTED serial killer targeting homeless men is having a chilling effect on New York City's most vulnerable.

Derrick DeMaria, who is an advocate for the homeless community, said rough sleepers are "terrified" after a deranged shooter targeted five people living on the streets in Manhattan and Washington, DC.

He walked through the Big Apple's Tompkins Park with The Sun on Monday - an area he knows intimately - and couldn't find anyone he knew.

"It's really odd," he told The Sun in an exclusive interview in the East Village public park.

"I don't know where everyone is. Usually, they're all around here, especially on a day like this."

It was about 55 degrees and sunny, a stark contrast to the dark times over the weekend when two homeless men were shot between 4.30 am and 6 am.

One victim was shot in the arm but survived; the second victim was woken up, shot a point-blank range in the head and neck, and died.

The suspect is believed to be a serial killer targeting the homeless in Washington DC and New York City, the NYPD and Washington Metro Police said in joint statements.

Between March 3 and 9, police said the same man allegedly shot three homeless men in DC. One of the three died.

"I really don't know why," DeMaria said when asked why he thought the homeless would be targets of violence.

"I talked to my friend in one of the nearby shelters, and he's scared. There's so much anxiousness and fear among the houseless. They don't know where to go or what to do," he said.

"I talked to someone this morning who might be losing his status in his shelter, and he's really upset, and now he's afraid to be on the street with someone killing the houseless."

John, who's homeless and living in a shelter, told The Sun in a separate interview that the homeless community in downtown Manhattan is scared for their lives.

"There's always been violence against us because we're not seen as human," said John, whose last name is being withheld to avoid retribution or being targeted.