A suspected serial killer in Los Angeles has been arrested after four killings in four days, three of which targeted homeless men. The suspect, 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was already in custody for another murder when police connected him to the recent killings. The arrest came after authorities issued an urgent plea for homeless individuals to be on high alert for the killer. The motive for the killing spree remains unknown. The first victim, Jose Bolanos, was found dead on a couch in an alley in South Los Angeles. The second victim, Mark Diggs, was killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown Los Angeles. The third victim, a 52-year-old man, was found dead on a sidewalk in Lincoln Heights. All three victims were asleep when they were shot. Police connected the killings through shell casings and surveillance footage of a 2024 BMW M440 seen at all three crime scenes. The vehicle was later found by Beverly Hills police, leading to Powell’s arrest. The murder weapon, a gun, was found inside the vehicle and linked to all four homicides. Authorities do not believe there was any connection between Powell and the victims. Nicholas Simbolon, the victim of the botched robbery that led to Powell’s arrest, was described as a gentle and hardworking person. The killings have prompted city officials to create a task force to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. The city has the highest homeless population in the country, with over 75,000 people homeless on any given night. The rate of homeless homicides has also increased in recent years, with 74 homeless individuals killed in 2022 compared to 29 in 2017.
