A 68-year-old transient was shot and killed early Monday morning outside of the Manteca Public Library.

Police are currently searching for any leads that may point to the identity of the gunman.

William Costa was reportedly part of a nightly encampment along Center Street that has been active since Manteca Police removed a larger encampment behind Library Park earlier this month. Shortly after 4 a.m. Costa was shot in the head by an unidentified male that approached the encampment on foot and was transported by medics to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The alleged shooter later fled the area and has not yet been identified.

According to Manteca Police the matter does not appear to be connected to any incidents of violence involving the homeless community of Manteca in the recent past.

“The investigation is very fluid and ongoing at this time,” Manteca Police Lt. Stephen Schluer said. “However, we do not believe it was a random act and the investigation will continue.”

The homicide was Manteca’s second of the year after a shooting at the Sandpiper Village Apartments off of Pennebaker Way and Pestana Avenue in May ended the life of a 24-year-old man. In that case a domestic altercation led to the shooting.

Last year a homeless Vietnam Veteran, Charles Smith, was killed a few blocks away from Library Park where he had been living. Smith was discovered on North Main Street suffering from a stab wound and later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital – the fourth homicide that took place in the city that year.

Manteca Police do not believe that incident is in any way connected to the one that took place early Monday morning outside of Library Park.

Anybody with information about the identity of the possible shooter or what may have taken place up to the point that the shot was fired early Monday is urged to contact the Manteca Police Department at 209.249.8401.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.