By Barbara Goldberg

NEW YORK, Reuters – Police sought a lone suspect in five shootings – two fatal – that occurred to homeless men over two weeks. His image was captured by security cameras.

Police in Washington stated that the first three shootings were directed at victims living in Washington. Then, two shots were fired in New York. In each of the cities, one person was shot to death.

Police want the public’s help in identifying a man who has a beard and is seen on surveillance video.

Overnight violence occurred in Washington, D.C., lower Manhattan, amid an avalanche of attacks on New York City.

Two of the latest incidents involved a man leaping over the Museum of Modern Art’s reception counter on Saturday, stabbing two staff members, and another individual hitting a metro rider with a hammer earlier in the week.

Attacks on the homeless began March 3rd at 4:45 a.m., when Washington Metropolitan Police officers heard gunshots from New York Avenue. A local hospital was called to treat the non-life-threatening injuries.

On March 8, five days later, police discovered a gunshot victim. For non-life-threatening injuries, he was transferred to a nearby hospital.

Police found a tent on New York Avenue the next day. Police later identified the cause of death as multiple gunshot and stab wounds.

On Saturday, the 38-year-old victim was found in New York City’s Lower Manhattan. He had been sleeping on King Street at Varick Street.

Police responding to 911 calls about gunshot wounds to the neck and head of a man found him dead in a bag at Lafayette Street.

After police arrived at Greenwich or Murray streets, they found a dead 43-year-old man.

New York Police Department stated that he suffered an injury to his right knee, but they didn’t immediately answer Reuters questions regarding whether the deceased man sustained gunshot wounds or whether his death might be related to the gunman.

According to the office of the medical examiner, the cause of death is being investigated. Reuters did not receive any immediate information from them about the completion date.