Los Angeles police have identified Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old man already arrested in another shooting investigation, as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men. Powell was found in possession of a firearm linked to the shootings. The announcement came after authorities were searching for the suspect. Powell is due to appear in court on Monday. Research shows that homeless individuals are more likely to be victims of crime rather than perpetrators. Guardian staff reporter reported
Los Angeles Man Identified as Suspect in Recent Killings of Unhoused Men
A man from Los Angeles, who was already under arrest for another shooting investigation, has now been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of unhoused men, according to the police. The suspect, 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was found to be linked to the shootings after a firearm discovered in the vehicle he was driving during his previous arrest was connected to the crimes. Powell was apprehended earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man whom he had followed home.
The identification of Powell as the suspect came just a day after authorities announced that they were searching for the person responsible for the shootings. The incidents occurred at the end of November, during the early morning hours while the victims were either sleeping or preparing to retire for the night.
The first victim, Jose Bolanos, 37, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in south Los Angeles around 3 am on November 26. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown at approximately 5 am, according to officials. The third shooting took place on November 29 at around 2:30 am in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The police have not released his identity pending notification of his family.
Detectives were able to identify Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and traced it to Beverly Hills, where he was stopped by the police. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a firearm. Chief Michel Moore expressed his gratitude that the suspect is now in custody and no longer a danger to the community.
Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, but an attorney has not been identified for him at this time. Online jail records indicate that he was arrested on Thursday and is currently being held on $2 million bail.
During a news conference on Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the dangers faced by those living on the streets, stating that violence is one of the many risks they encounter. Despite common misconceptions that unhoused individuals are responsible for a significant portion of urban crime, research actually shows that they are more likely to be victims of assault, robbery, and homicide compared to those who have housing. In fact, in 2022, unhoused individuals accounted for 24% of the city’s homicide victims, despite comprising only 1% of the population, as reported by NBC 4 Los Angeles. Additionally, a string of homicides in Stockton in the same year saw four out of seven victims being unhoused at the time, according to KCRA, Sacramento’s NBC affiliate.
In conclusion, the identification and arrest of Jerrid Joseph Powell as the suspect in the recent killings of unhoused men in Los Angeles provide some relief to the community. However, it also sheds light on the vulnerability and dangers faced by those living on the streets. The statistics demonstrate the need for greater awareness and support for unhoused individuals, who are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators..