LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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, the police announced on Saturday.
Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was named as the suspect in the three murders after authorities discovered that a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving during his earlier arrest was linked to the shootings, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
Powell was arrested this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for investigation into the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man late Tuesday after he returned to his home in San Dimas, a community located about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
The announcement came a day after Los Angeles authorities stated that they were searching for a suspect in the shootings of three homeless men. They also urged homeless individuals not to sleep alone for their own safety. The shootings occurred in late November during the early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or getting ready to sleep.
The victims have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead with a gunshot wound on November 26 in South Los Angeles, Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown on the following day, and a 52-year-old man who was found dead on Wednesday in the Lincoln Heights area. The police have not released his identity pending family notification.
Los Angeles County has the highest population in the nation, with about 10 million people, and was home to over one-fifth of the nation’s homeless population as of a federal tally in 2022. According to the last official count in January, there were more than 75,000 homeless people across the county on any given night.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
After the shooting in San Dimas, detectives used surveillance footage to identify Powell’s vehicle and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where the police stopped him on Wednesday and found the firearm inside.
Moore expressed his gratitude that Powell is in custody and no longer a threat to the community. Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday and no attorney has been identified for him. He was arrested on Thursday and is currently being held on $2 million bail.
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.
This announcement comes after five homeless individuals were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, one of whom died. Police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect.
