WACO, TX — Waco Police have arrested a suspect in connection to three shootings earlier this week.
17-year-old, Damarion Trammell Degrate was taken into custody with the help of local US Marshals Task Force at approximately 12:00 pm today for the charge of attempted murder in connection with the first shooting on Aug. 17.
Degrate is considered a suspect in the shooting death of 23-year-old, Jonathan Breeding, and the third shooting victim.
Early on detectives established a link with all three shooting victims who used an online dating app primarily used by gay men, according to Waco PD.
The Waco Police Department issued a warning the publicto remain vigilant after making the connection.
This investigation is ongoing.
"We continue to caution our citizens when using dating applications, in particularly those that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. We strongly recommend arranging online dating meetings in public venues," Waco Police said in a statement.
The following is a statement from Interim Chief of Police, Frank Gentsch.
"We identified early in the investigation a link between the three shootings and the danger this suspect presented to our community. The arrest today was the result of our Special Crimes Detectives' tireless efforts, along with our support staff, including our Crime Scene Unit and Computer Forensic Unit. I also want to thank the FBI and the United States Marshal Service for their assistance in these cases.”
