A suspect has been arrested in connection with four fatal shootings in Los Angeles, including the unprovoked killings of three homeless men. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, was already in custody for another homicide. Authorities are investigating if he may be linked to other cases. ABC7 Chicago reported
Los Angeles Serial Killings Linked to One Suspect
LOS ANGELES — Authorities in Los Angeles have revealed that four fatal shootings, which took place in the city this week, are connected to one suspect. The shootings involved the unprovoked killings of three homeless men who were sleeping alone on sidewalks or in alleys. Police arrested Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, and linked him to the murders of the three individuals. Powell was already in custody for another homicide, which occurred during a home robbery in Los Angeles County earlier in the week.
The series of killings took place over four days, from Sunday to Wednesday. Powell was apprehended in connection with the robbery homicide on Thursday. The announcement of a potential serial killer being on the loose was made on Friday, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirming Powell’s arrest at a press briefing on Saturday.
Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department informed reporters that Powell’s vehicle was present at all three homicides of the homeless men. Additionally, a handgun recovered from the vehicle was identified as the murder weapon. The same vehicle and handgun were also connected to the home robbery shooting.
The first shooting occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, claiming the life of a 37-year-old man. The second victim, aged 62, was attacked at approximately 4:55 a.m. on Monday, and the third victim, aged 52, was killed around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Chief Moore stated that the motive behind these shootings remains unclear, as the men were murdered without any provocation.
In addition to the homeless murders, Powell was also accused of following a victim from a charging station in West Covina to the victim’s home in San Dimas, where he committed a home robbery and senselessly shot the victim. 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.
Surveillance footage helped detectives identify a vehicle of interest in the home-robbery case, a 2024 Gray BMW, which was flagged as a “Wanted, Armed and Dangerous” vehicle in law enforcement databases. The suspect’s whereabouts were tracked using an automatic license plate reader system, leading to his arrest during a traffic stop in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night. Powell has been charged with robbery and murder and is currently held on $2.1 million bail.
Los Angeles Police Chief Moore emphasized the importance of the tools and technologies used in apprehending Powell. Without access to these resources, he believes Powell would still be a threat and continue to harm innocent and helpless individuals in the city.
Authorities are now investigating whether the suspect may be involved in other cases. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna urged potential victims to come forward and report any crimes they believe Powell may have perpetrated.
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