A man in Los Angeles has been identified as the suspect in the killings of three homeless men. Jerrid Joseph Powell was linked to the shootings after a firearm found in his vehicle was connected to the crimes. Powell was already in custody for another shooting investigation. Los Angeles County has a significant homeless population, with more than 75,000 people homeless on any given night. Powell is due to appear in court on Monday. Authorities do not believe there is any connection between Powell and the victims. CityNews Kitchener reported
Los Angeles Man Arrested in Connection with Three Homeless Killings
A Los Angeles man, who was already in custody for another shooting investigation, has been identified as the suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men, according to the Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, 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 apprehended earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the alleged shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man in San Dimas, a community located 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
The announcement about Powell being the suspect in the three homeless killings came a day after Los Angeles authorities announced their search for a suspect and warned homeless individuals to avoid sleeping alone for their own safety. The shootings occurred at the end of November, during the early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or preparing to sleep.
The first victim, Jose Bolanos, 37, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in South Los Angeles on November 26. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown. The third homeless shooting occurred in the Lincoln Heights area on Wednesday, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The identity of the third victim has not been released pending notification of his family.
Los Angeles County, with a population of about 10 million people, has the highest number of homeless individuals in the nation, accounting for more than one in five of the country’s homeless population based on a 2022 federal tally. As of January, there were over 75,000 homeless people across the county on any given night.
After the shooting in San Dimas, detectives identified Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and traced it to Beverly Hills. Police stopped Powell in Beverly Hills on Wednesday and discovered the firearm in his possession.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed his gratitude that Powell was in custody and no longer a threat to the community. Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, and he is currently being held on $2 million bail.
Moore urged the public to provide any additional information they may have. He stated that authorities do not believe there is any connection between Powell and the victims. The swift identification of the suspect was made possible due to collaboration between different agencies and the use of surveillance technology.
This announcement follows the news of five homeless people being shot in Las Vegas on Friday, with one of them succumbing to their injuries. Las Vegas police are currently searching for a lone suspect.
The Associated Press
.