(CNN) - Four homeless men were killed -- and a fifth seriously injured -- around Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood when someone struck their heads with metal, apparently while they were sleeping, New York City police said Saturday.
A suspect -- a 24-year-old man who investigators believe also is homeless -- is in custody, New York police Detective Annette Shelton said.
Investigators found a metal object -- possibly a pipe -- that they believe was used in the attacks, NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Baldassano said.
"The motive appears to be right now just ... random attacks," Baldassano said Saturday morning during a news conference.
Witnesses said they saw at least one attack, police sayThe grisly discoveries began after someone called 911 at 1:49 a.m. to report an assault near a building at 2 Bowery in Chinatown, Hughes said.