Bio

Michael Player was born in 1960. He grew up in Los Angeles, California. He had a criminal record that included charges for theft and armed robbery. Player struggled to stay out of trouble and often found himself involved in illegal activities.

In the couple of years before his death, Player was convicted on several charges. He was also known to carry a concealed weapon. Michael Player’s life came to a tragic end in 1986 when he committed suicide. He was found dead in a motel room in Los Angeles just one day after a violent incident.

Murder Story

Michael Player, also known as Marcus Nisby, was responsible for a series of murders in Los Angeles. The murders occurred between September 4 and October 9, 1986, during which time he killed ten men, most of whom were homeless.

The first victim was Rudolfo Roque, a 54-year-old man visiting from San Diego. He was shot in the back of the head while walking down the street. After Roque, Player targeted men who were often alone. On September 8, Rick Stamps, aged 66, was murdered in a similar fashion. The next attacks took place on September 13, where Rojello Sirven, 31, was shot in the head, and Joseph Griffin, 47, was also shot but survived for several weeks.

Player continued his spree throughout September. Michael Singer, 66, was shot in the back of the head on September 20. Just a few days later, on September 23, David Towns, a 36-year-old vagrant, was killed while he slept. The murders did not stop there, as Player went on to kill Christopher Boyle, 25, and Leon Gaines, 56, on September 30. Chang Kang, aged 23, was shot on October 7, followed by Wayne Ellis, a 44-year-old vagrant, on October 8.

After these killings, one intended victim was able to survive and provided police with a description of the shooter. This led to a search for Player, who had previously been questioned in connection with the murders but was released due to lack of evidence. On October 10, Player checked into a hotel, where he shot himself. He was found dead the following day, and fingerprint analysis confirmed his identity.

Following his death, police linked Player to the murders through ballistic tests and other evidence collected. The case was officially closed in February 1987 after confirming his role as the Skid Row Slayer.