First San Diego homeless murder victim attended MCC

A memorial service will be held for Angelo De Nardo, who attended Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) and was the first homeless victim killed in a series of five attacks on homeless men. Two others were killed and two seriously injured.

No date has been set yet for the service, but Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall made the announcement after members learned that De Nardo, 53, was killed under the Interstate 5 Bridge near Mission Bay July 3.

“He was a very gentle guy. He wanted to be around people and learn,” said Jude Litzenberger, who teaches the adult progressive Sunday School class that De Nardo attended.

“I got to really like the guy. He was a loving, funny, friendly person who will be hugely missed,” said Kathy Wilson.

Court records say De Nardo was killed early July 3 with some type of weapon and was then set on fire where he normally slept. Authorities said De Nardo was deceased when his body was set on fire. Someone called 911 at 8:05 a.m. when they saw the fire.

“To find out he was killed so violently …” said Wilson, her voice trailing off. “When Pastor Dan made the announcement, I wanted to scream, cry out and grieve.”

Jon David Guerrero, 39, was arrested July 15 and was charged Tuesday with killing De Nardo, Shawn Longley, 41, and Dionicio Vahidy, 23, as well as the attempted murder of two other men.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis filed special circumstance charges alleging Guerrero committed multiple murders which could result in the death penalty if Guerrero is convicted.

Guerrero’s attorney, Dan Tandon, won a delay in the arraignment Tuesday and San Diego Superior Court Judge Fred Maguire re-set it for Aug. 3. Guerrero remains in jail without bail.

Because he wasn’t arraigned, Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey or Tandon would not comment on any details of the case other than to verify what charges were filed.

The second victim, 61, was attacked July 4 in the Midway District and survived. Longley was found dead near tennis courts in Ocean Beach July 4.

Vahidy was found critically injured July 6 downtown and died July 10. The fifth victim was attacked in Golden Hill July 15 by a man on a bicycle and Guerrero was arrested an hour later.

Images of the attacker wearing a green hat were captured on surveillance cameras at a service station where a man was seen buying a gas can. A police sketch was widely distributed.

Third District Councilmember Todd Gloria said the incidents were “senseless and cowardly attacks on some of our city’s most vulnerable neighbors.” He said, “No community should ever be serially terrorized or forced to live in fear.”

Police arrested Anthony Padgett, 36, July 7 because he had a prior record for burning a homeless man in 2010, but he was released July 11.

As Teresa Biery was leaving MCC July 3, she noticed police cars and officers standing on Clairemont Drive not far from where De Nardo often slept.

“My first thought was someone may have jumped. Later I saw the photo of Angelo from the news and recognized him even without his glasses,” said Biery.

“He made this church his home,” said another member.

In mentioning De Nardo’s death, Koeshall talked about the prevalence of hate that seems to have risen sharply this summer, such as the attack upon a gay club in Orlando that killed 49 people, the five police officers shot in Dallas, and terrorist attacks in France and elsewhere.

Hate must be countered by love, said Koeshall.

Koeshall said the church often gives out food to those in need, and De Nardo always produced $1 in exchange for food even though he didn’t need to do that.

“He was kind of a unique guy, very functional,” said Litzenberger about De Nardo.

She said De Nardo told her he took medication for schizophrenia and met with a therapist. He had some type of disability income and even had a cell phone.

“If (the attacker) knew Angelo, he wouldn’t have done it,” said Litzenberger.

De Nardo went out to lunch with people from the Sunday School class and always paid his own way. He attended MCC off and on since 2014.

This writer knew De Nardo from MCC and had lunch with him. He was a gentle soul, intelligent, and is already missed.

Koeshall said he wanted the memorial service to also be held in the memory of the other two victims.