Starting with the Tuesday evening slaying of Dederichs, two other people apparently walking alone were attacked in the same 10-block radius, Metropolitan D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
"It appears that the victims may have been attacked suddenly and without provocation," Lanier said. Police have found no clear motive, including robbery, in the attacks.
While police haven't confirmed the same person is responsible for the attacks, Lanier said, among the similar traits, "All three of the victims did suffer pretty significant blunt force trauma to the head."
Dederichs was killed near an apartment where he was staying during his visit, Adler said.
"He was just here visiting the city, going to different locations and visiting monuments, museums and so forth," said Lt. Robert Adler of the D.C. Police Department.
The next victim, a 53-year-old black man, was found unconscious about 3 a.m. Wednesday on the roadway in the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue, Lanier said.
"Initially police thought the man may have been struck by a car. However, after medical examination it appears that his only injuries were trauma to the head," Lanier said. "The injuries appeared to have been caused by some sort of blunt impact."
The man remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday, Lanier said.
The third victim, a 37-year-old black woman, was attacked about 8:40 Wednesday in the 5600 block of Ninth Street Northwest, the chief said. She was also bludgeoned with a blunt weapon.
The woman remained hospitalized in serious condition on Thursday.
Police haven't been able to gain information about the attacker from the victims, because of their head trauma.
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