LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man from Los Angeles who was already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation has been identified as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, according to police on Saturday.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore announced that Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was linked to the three killings after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving when he was arrested earlier was connected to the shootings.
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Powell was taken into custody this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for investigation of the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man late Tuesday in San Dimas, a community located about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
The announcement came just a day after Los Angeles authorities revealed that they were searching for a suspect in the shootings of three homeless men and advised 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 sleeping or preparing to sleep.
The victims have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead in an alley in South Los Angeles on November 26, Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed near downtown while pushing a shopping cart on the following day, and a 52-year-old man who was found dead in the Lincoln Heights area on Wednesday.
According to a 2022 federal tally, Los Angeles County, with a population of around 10 million people, is home to over one-fifth of the nation’s homeless population. The county recorded over 75,000 homeless people on any given night as of January.
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After the San Dimas shooting, detectives used surveillance footage to identify Powell’s vehicle and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where he was stopped and the firearm was found.
Powell is due to appear in court on Monday, and no attorney has been identified for him yet. He is currently being held on $2 million bail.
Chief Moore urged the public to provide any additional information and stated that authorities do not believe there is any connection between Powell and the victims. He also emphasized the importance of surveillance technology in quickly identifying the suspect and preventing further harm.
The announcement comes following a similar incident in Las Vegas, where five homeless individuals were shot, one fatally, on Friday. Police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect.
