LOS ANGELES — Police have identified a Los Angeles man as the suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men in the city. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation when authorities linked him to the homeless killings.
The announcement came after authorities urged homeless individuals to avoid sleeping alone for their own safety. The shootings occurred at the end of November while the victims were sleeping or preparing to sleep. The victims were identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, Mark Diggs, 62, and an unidentified 52-year-old man.
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Los Angeles County has a significant homeless population, with over 75,000 people homeless on any given night. The city is now grappling with the issue of homelessness, and incidents like these shootings further highlight the dangers faced by the homeless community.
Powell was arrested earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man in San Dimas, east of downtown Los Angeles. Detectives identified Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where he was apprehended. A firearm found in the vehicle was linked to the homeless killings.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed gratitude that Powell is now in custody, stating that he is no longer a threat to the community. Moore also asked the public to provide any additional information related to the case. Authorities do not believe there is any connection between Powell and the victims.
The announcement came in the wake of a similar incident in Las Vegas, where five homeless people were shot, one of them fatally. Police in Las Vegas are also searching for a lone suspect.
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Powell is due to appear in court on Monday and is being held on $2 million bail. The swift identification and arrest of the suspect were aided by surveillance technology, which allowed authorities to work quickly across agencies.
