DENVER (KDVR) — The Aurora Police Department has connected a man accused of killing a Denver County jail inmate with two separate stabbings that left two unhoused men dead on Sunday.

The agency said it obtained an arrest warrant for Ricky Roybal-Smith, 38, on Wednesday afternoon, for first-degree murder charges. He remains in custody in Denver for unrelated charges, which include DUI and a homicide after he allegedly strangled another jail inmate to death. Aurora police said he would be transferred to Adams County to be booked into jail for the first-degree murder warrant.

Earlier on Wednesday, the agency would only tell FOX31 that it had a person of interest in the case, but that no one had been identified, arrested or charged in connection with the stabbings. The stabbings took place hours and blocks apart, and Aurora police announced Monday, the day after the stabbings, that they were likely connected.

The first stabbing was reported at about 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, when officers responded to the 1500 block of Moline Street and found a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. Although officers attempted lifesaving efforts, the man died at the scene.

Then, just before 6:30 a.m., officers responded to another unresponsive man near a bus stop on Peoria Street, south of East Colfax Avenue. The man also had apparent stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Detectives have since confirmed the two crimes are connected and Roybal-Smith faces first-degree murder charges for both incidents," Aurora police said Wednesday.

Police said that both men were believed to be experiencing homelessness. The agency said it wasn't sure if the men were targeted due to their housing status, but the city activated its Homeless Abatement and Relocation Team on Sunday, which, according to the city’s website, works “to clean up abatements and address community concerns.”

The investigations are active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and
could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.