Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police in Los Angeles have identified a suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men, linking him to the crimes through a firearm found in his possession. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation when authorities made the breakthrough.
Just a day earlier, Los Angeles authorities had announced their search for a suspect in the shootings and warned homeless individuals to avoid sleeping alone for their safety. The three killings occurred in November during the early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or preparing to sleep.
The first victim, Jose Bolanos, 37, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in South Los Angeles on November 26. The following day, Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown. The third homeless shooting took place on November 28 in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The identity of the third victim has not been disclosed pending notification of his family.
Los Angeles County, with a population of approximately 10 million people, has the highest homeless population in the country. According to a 2022 federal tally, more than 75,000 individuals were homeless across the county on any given night in January.
After the shooting in San Dimas, detectives were able to identify Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and traced it to Beverly Hills, where he was apprehended. The firearm linked to the killings was discovered inside the vehicle during the arrest.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore expressed relief that the suspect is now in custody, stating, “I am grateful that this suspect in this case is in custody and no longer a threat to this community.” Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday and is currently being held on $2 million bail.
Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any additional information related to the case. Moore assured the public that there is no apparent connection between Powell and the victims.
The swift identification and arrest of the suspect was made possible through collaboration between various law enforcement agencies and the use of surveillance technology. Moore emphasized the importance of these tools in apprehending dangerous individuals and preventing further loss of life.
The announcement of Powell’s identification as the suspect comes amidst another incident of homeless shootings, this time in Las Vegas. On Friday, five homeless individuals were shot, one of whom died. Las Vegas police are currently searching for a lone suspect in that case.