Los Angeles Man Arrested as Suspect in Killings of Unhoused Men, Jerrid Joseph Powell Identified

A man from Los Angeles who was already under arrest for another shooting has now been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, the police announced on Saturday. The suspect, 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was linked to the killings after a firearm found in the vehicle he was driving during his earlier arrest was determined to be connected to the shootings.

Powell had been apprehended by sheriff’s deputies earlier in the week for the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man whom he had followed home. The announcement of his connection to the three homeless killings came one day after authorities revealed they were searching for a suspect in the shootings. The incidents occurred at the end of November, in the early morning hours while the victims were either sleeping or preparing for the night.

The victims have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in south Los Angeles on November 26th. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown. The third shooting took place on November 29th in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was discovered. The police have not released his identity pending notification of his family.

Detectives were able to identify Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where he was apprehended. A firearm was found in his possession during the arrest.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass expressed her gratitude that the suspect was 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.

At a press conference, Mayor Bass highlighted the dangers faced by homeless individuals, emphasizing that they are more likely to be victims of crime rather than perpetrators. Research has shown that homeless people are more susceptible to assault, robbery, and homicide compared to those who have housing. Despite making up just 1% of the population, unhoused individuals accounted for 24% of the city’s homicide victims in 2022, according to an investigation by NBC 4 Los Angeles.