Suspect Identified in Three Recent Killings of Homeless Men in Los Angeles

A man from Los Angeles, who was already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation, has been identified as the suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men, according to the police. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was named as the suspect after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving during his arrest was linked to the shootings. Powell was arrested earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for investigation of the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man.

The announcement follows a plea from Los Angeles authorities urging homeless individuals not to sleep 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 found in the Lincoln Heights area.

Los Angeles County, with a population of about 10 million people, is home to more than one in five of the nation’s homeless people, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, over 75,000 people were homeless across the county on any given night.

After the shooting in San Dimas, detectives identified Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and tracked it to Beverly Hills, where he was stopped and arrested. The firearm was found inside the vehicle. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed gratitude that the suspect was in custody, no longer posing a threat to the community. Powell is due to appear in court on Monday and is 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 credited the quick identification of the suspect to the collaboration between agencies and the use of surveillance technology.

The announcement comes on the heels of five homeless people being shot in Las Vegas, one of them fatally. Police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect.