Los Angeles police have identified a man in custody in connection with another shooting investigation as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was linked to the killings after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving when arrested earlier was connected to the shootings. Powell was arrested by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for investigation of the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man. The announcement came a day after Los Angeles authorities said they were searching for a suspect in the shootings of three homeless men and urged homeless individuals to not sleep alone for their own safety. The shootings took place at the end of November during the early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or preparing to turn in for the night.
The victims include Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in South Los Angeles; Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown; and an unidentified 52-year-old man whose body was found in the Lincoln Heights area. Los Angeles County, with a population of about 10 million people, is home to over one in five of the nation’s homeless people, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, more than 75,000 people were homeless across the county on any given night.
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After the San Dimas shooting, detectives identified Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where police stopped him and found the firearm inside. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed gratitude that Powell is in custody and no longer a threat to the community. Powell is due to appear in court on Monday and is being held on $2 million bail. Authorities have asked the public to come forward with any additional information and do not believe there is a connection between Powell and the victims.
Moore credited surveillance technology for the quick identification of the suspect, stating that without access to those tools, Powell would still be moving about the city and region, potentially killing more individuals. The announcement comes after five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, with one fatality. Police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect.
