A Los Angeles man, Jerrid Joseph Powell, has been identified as the suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men. Police linked Powell to the shootings after finding a firearm in a vehicle he was driving when he was arrested. Santa Maria Times reported
A man from Los Angeles, who was already in custody for another shooting investigation, has been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, according to the Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was linked to the killings after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving during his previous arrest was connected to the shootings. 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 San Dimas, a community located about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
This announcement comes after authorities in Los Angeles had been searching for a suspect involved in the shootings of three homeless men. They had urged 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 victims of these heinous crimes have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who 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 in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was discovered on Wednesday around 2:30 a.m. The identity of the third victim has not been released pending family notification.
Los Angeles County, with a population of approximately 10 million people, has the highest number of homeless people in the nation, accounting for more than one in five of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, it was estimated that over 75,000 people were homeless in the county on any given night.
Following the shooting in San Dimas, detectives were able to identify Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage. They tracked it to Beverly Hills, where he was subsequently stopped by the police. During the stop, the firearm believed to be used in the shootings was discovered. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed his 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 it is currently unclear whether he has legal representation. Online jail records indicate that he was arrested on Thursday and is being held on a $2 million bail.
Chief Moore urged the public to provide any additional information related to the case. He stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting a connection between Powell and the victims. The authorities attributed their quick identification of the suspect to the collaboration and efficient use of surveillance technology across different agencies.
Chief Moore also emphasized the importance of access to surveillance tools in apprehending dangerous individuals like Powell, stating that without them, he believes Powell would still be on the loose, posing a threat to the city and its residents..