Los Angeles police have linked one suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, to four fatal shootings that occurred in the area this week. Powell was already in custody for another homicide involving a home robbery. The shootings targeted unhoused men and the suspect was apprehended after his vehicle and handgun were positively identified. A motive has not yet been established. Powell is also being investigated for possible links to other cases. ABC7 San Francisco reported
Four Homeless Men Fatally Shot in Los Angeles Linked to One Suspect
LOS ANGELES — In a disturbing series of events, four fatal shootings took place in the Los Angeles area this week, and police have now connected all four incidents to a single suspect. The three victims, all of whom were experiencing homelessness, were killed in unprovoked attacks while they were sleeping alone on the streets or in alleys in Los Angeles. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was apprehended and is currently in custody for the murders of these three unhoused men. Furthermore, Powell was already under arrest for another homicide related to a home robbery that occurred earlier in the week in Los Angeles County.
The spree of serial killings took place over a four-day period, starting from Sunday and ending on Wednesday. Powell was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the robbery homicide. The announcement of a potential serial killer being at large was made by authorities on Friday, but within 24 hours of the announcement, Powell was apprehended. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed relief at the suspect’s capture during a press briefing on Saturday.
According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, Powell’s vehicle was present at all three homicide scenes where the homeless men were killed, and a handgun recovered from the vehicle has been positively identified as the murder weapon. Investigators have also established a link between the vehicle and handgun used in the homeless murders and the home robbery shooting.
The first victim, a 37-year-old man, was fatally shot around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The second victim, aged 62, was attacked at approximately 4:55 a.m. on Monday, and the third victim, a 52-year-old man, was killed around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Chief Moore stated that the motive behind these shootings is yet to be determined and that the victims were targeted “without provocation.”
In a separate incident, the suspect allegedly followed a victim from a charging station in West Covina to the victim’s home in San Dimas. After stealing personal belongings, Powell senselessly shot the victim and fled the crime scene. The victim, identified as 42-year-old Nicholas Simbolon, succumbed to his injuries. 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.
Authorities were able to identify Powell as a suspect in the home robbery shooting thanks to surveillance footage. A 2024 Gray BMW, captured in the footage, was flagged as a “Wanted, Armed and Dangerous” vehicle in law enforcement databases. Utilizing an automatic license plate reader system, law enforcement located and arrested Powell during a traffic stop in Beverly Hills on Wednesday evening. He was booked early Thursday on charges of robbery and murder and is currently held on $2.1 million bail.
Chief Moore emphasized the importance of the tools used in Powell’s capture, stating that without them, the suspect may have continued his killing spree. Authorities are now investigating whether Powell could be connected to other cases. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna urged potential victims to come forward and report any crimes they believe Powell may have committed.
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