A 33-year-old man, Jerrid Joseph Powell, has been identified as the suspect in the killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles. Powell was arrested earlier this week and a firearm found in his vehicle was linked to the shootings. He is due to appear in court on Monday. Associated Press reported
Los Angeles Man Connected to Three Homeless Killings Identified
A man from Los Angeles who was already under arrest for a separate shooting investigation has been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, according to the Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was linked to the killings after a firearm found in the vehicle he was driving during his arrest was connected to the shootings.
Powell was taken into custody earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the investigation of shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man at his residence. The identification of Powell as the suspect in the three killings was announced one day after authorities launched a search for the perpetrator. The shootings occurred in late November, during the early morning hours, while the victims were either sleeping or preparing to retire for the night.
According to officials, the first victim, Jose Bolanos, 37, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in South Los Angeles around 3 a.m. on November 26. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was fatally shot while pushing a shopping cart near downtown around 5 a.m. The third shooting took place on November 29 at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The police have not yet released the identity of the third victim, awaiting family notification.
Detectives were able to identify Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and subsequently located him in Beverly Hills. During the stop, a firearm was discovered inside the vehicle. “I am grateful that this suspect in this case is in custody and no longer a threat to this community,” Moore stated during a press conference.
Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, and as of now, no attorney has been identified to represent him. He was arrested on Thursday and is currently being held on $2 million bail, according to online jail records.
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