A suspect has been arrested in connection with four fatal shootings in Los Angeles, including the killings of three homeless men. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, was already in custody for another homicide. Authorities are investigating if the suspect is linked to other cases. ABC30 Fresno reported
Serial Killer Linked to Four Fatal Shootings in Los Angeles Area
LOS ANGELES — Authorities in Los Angeles have connected four fatal shootings that occurred this week to a single suspect, according to the police. The victims in these incidents were all homeless men who were shot while sleeping alone on the streets or in alleys.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was taken into custody for the killings of the three unhoused men. The arrest was made by the police on Saturday. It was revealed that Powell was already in custody for another homicide related to a home robbery that took place in Los Angeles County earlier in the week.
The spree of serial killings unfolded over a four-day period, starting from Sunday and ending on Wednesday. Powell was apprehended on Thursday in connection with the robbery homicide case.
On Friday, authorities publicly announced that they were searching for a potential serial killer responsible for the shootings of the homeless victims. Just a day later, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared at a press briefing that the suspect was now in custody.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore revealed that Powell’s vehicle was present at all three homicide scenes involving the homeless victims. Additionally, a handgun recovered from Powell’s vehicle was positively identified as the murder weapon. Both the vehicle and the handgun were also linked to the home robbery shooting.
The first victim, a 37-year-old man, was killed at around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The second victim, aged 62, was attacked at approximately 4:55 a.m. on Monday. The third victim, a 52-year-old man, lost his life around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Chief Moore stated that the motive behind these shootings remains unknown, as the men were murdered without any provocation.
In a separate incident, Powell is accused of following a 42-year-old man, Nicholas Simbolon, from a charging station in West Covina to his home in San Dimas. After robbing Simbolon, Powell senselessly shot him and fled the scene, resulting in Simbolon’s death. Simbolon was a father of two and worked as a project manager in the I.T. department of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office.
Surveillance footage helped detectives identify a vehicle of interest in the home-robbery shooting case, a 2024 Gray BMW, which was flagged as a “Wanted, Armed and Dangerous” vehicle in a law enforcement database. Using an automatic license plate reader system, the suspect’s whereabouts were tracked, leading to his arrest during a traffic stop in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night. Powell was booked early Thursday on charges of robbery and murder, with bail set at $2.1 million.
During the press briefing, Chief Moore emphasized the importance of tools like the automatic license plate reader system and urged the public to contact the authorities if they believe they may have been a victim of the suspect’s crimes.
Authorities are currently investigating whether the suspect might be connected to additional cases.
\”If anyone suspects that they may have been targeted by this individual, it is crucial that you contact us immediately,\” stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna during the briefing.
.