WATERLOO - Police believe three home invasions early Thursday morning were connected and the victims were not chosen at random.

Waterloo Police Chief Tom Jennings said the department has multiple suspects that appear to be the same in the spree, which started just before 3 a.m. and ended with a Deshai Whitis, 27, of 223 Hope Ave., being shot less than two hours later.

Deshai was in surgery at Allen Hospital for what police believed to be non life-threatening injury to her leg, and two of the three crime scenes were still being processed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

"We believe these three events are connected," Jennings said. "We know these are not random acts."

Police were first called at 2:55 a.m. to 609 Rhey St., where George Coffer reported he was home in bed when he heard a noise on his main floor. Police found the rear door had been kicked in but, at this point, noting appeared to be missing from the home and no one was injured.

At 3:50 a.m., officers responded to a reported burglary at 145 Dearborn Ave. Trista Hill, 25, and Devon Parham, 28, reported several armed black males forced their way into the residence and took several items. There were no injuries.

At 4:45 p.m., officers responded to 223 Hope on a burglary report. The victims, Terrell Manning and Whitis, were at home in bed when several black males forced their way into the residence armed with weapons, shooting Whitis, police said. The intruders in that case reportedly wore face masks and had on blue and black hoodies.

It was the second shooting at the Hope Avenue residence in six months. Police reports indicate Manning was shot in the leg Sept. 27 at home. No arrests have been made in that case, police said.

Jennings said investigators were still interviewing witnesses, executing search warrants and processing the Dearborn and Hope crime scenes Thursday morning.

"We are asking for the public's assistance in coming forward," he said. "If you see anything suspicious, call us. If you think you saw something … call us."

Mayor Tim Hurley called a news conference Thursday to address the home invasions and what are believed to be two unrelated aggravated assaults, which occurred Wednesday night.

"I think the citizens of Waterloo are rightfully upset … and naturally wondering what's going on and what we're doing about it," Hurley said. "We do not accept and will not tolerate criminal activity or acts of violence in the community."

Hurley said the city takes these incidents, as it does all acts of violence, very seriously. All available police personnel are focused on the latest events.

The aggravated assaults happened at about 5 p.m. and 9:48 p.m. Wednesday.

In the earlier incident, Sead Mujkic, 46, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and going armed with intent for allegedly assaulting Edin Zonix, 43, and threatening him with a knife at 611 1/2 W. Sixth St.

Later, officers went to 3720 Memory Lane for an assault. Joseph Richard Mott, 26, was charged with first-degree burglary for allegedly assaulting Lance Higuera, 23, with a knife. Higuera received a small laceration on his left wrist which did not require medical attention, police said.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.