Man Charged with Four Counts of Murder in Killings of Homeless Men and Suburban Resident

Prosecutors in Los Angeles have charged a man with four counts of murder in connection with the fatal shootings of three homeless men and a suburban resident last month. Jerrid Joseph Powell, aged 33, also faces charges of residential robbery and being a felon with a firearm. The charges include special circumstances of committing multiple murders and murder during a robbery, as well as personal use of a firearm. Powell appeared in court with his attorney but did not enter a plea. His arraignment has been postponed until January 8.

Powell was initially arrested as a suspect in a deadly shooting during a robbery in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles. The firearm found in his car was later linked to the killings of the three homeless men. The motive for these killings is currently unknown, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.

The victims of the shootings include Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead in an alley in South Los Angeles, and Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown. The third shooting occurred in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The fourth victim, Nicholas Simbolon, 42, was shot dead at his home in San Dimas.

Los Angeles County, with a population of approximately 10 million people, is home to a significant number of homeless individuals. According to a 2022 federal tally, it housed more than one in five of the nation’s homeless population. Advocates for the homeless point out that those living on the streets are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators.

In a separate incident, five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas, with one fatality. Police are currently searching for a lone suspect in connection with the case. In Orange County, California, a man named Itzcoatl Ocampo was charged with killing four homeless men in a series of stabbings between late 2011 and early 2012. Ocampo died while awaiting trial.

If Powell is convicted on all charges, he could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.