Los Angeles police have identified a man already in custody for another shooting as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was arrested earlier this week and a firearm found in his vehicle was linked to the shootings. The Associated Press reported
By The Associated Press
Updated: 1 hour ago
Published: 1 hour ago
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, Mayor Karen Bass, and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore held a press conference on Saturday, December 2, 2023, to announce the arrest of a suspect in three recent killings of homeless men in Los Angeles. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was already in custody for another shooting investigation when authorities connected him to the three killings through a firearm found in the vehicle he was driving at the time of his arrest.
Powell was apprehended earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man in the community of San Dimas, located about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The arrest was made after authorities released a statement the day before, seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect in the shootings of three homeless men. They also 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 either sleeping or preparing to sleep.
The first victim, Jose Bolanos, 37, was found 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 on November 29 in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was discovered. The identity of the third victim has not been released pending family notification.
Los Angeles County has the highest population in the nation, with approximately 10 million people, and a significant homeless population. According to a federal tally in 2022, the county is home to over one in five of the nation’s homeless individuals, totaling more than 75,000 people as of January.
After the San Dimas shooting, detectives used surveillance footage to identify Powell’s vehicle and traced it to Beverly Hills, where he was stopped and arrested. During the arrest, authorities found the firearm believed to have been used in the killings. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed gratitude that Powell is now 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. It is unclear at this time whether he has legal representation. Chief Moore urged the public to provide any additional information related to the case. He stated that there is no known connection between Powell and the victims and commended the collaboration between agencies and the use of surveillance technology in swiftly identifying the suspect.
In a separate incident, five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, and one of them died. Las Vegas authorities are currently searching for a lone suspect in that case..