Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old man, has been charged with four counts of murder in connection with the fatal shootings of three homeless men in Los Angeles and a suburban resident last month. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has also charged Powell with one count of residential robbery and one count of being a felon with a firearm. The charges also include special circumstances of committing multiple murders, murder in the course of a robbery, as well as personal use of a firearm allegations.
Powell made an appearance in court on Monday afternoon, accompanied by his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Carlos Bido. However, he did not enter a plea, and his arraignment has been continued to January 8.
The public defender’s office released a statement asserting their commitment to a vigorous defense on behalf of Mr. Powell. They emphasized that, in accordance with the principles of the criminal legal system, Powell is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Powell was initially arrested last week as a suspect in a deadly shooting during a robbery in the community of San Dimas, located east of Los Angeles. Authorities later connected him to the killings of the three homeless men when a firearm found in his car was linked to the shootings.
The motive behind the killings of the homeless victims remains unknown, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. The victims were identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, Mark Diggs, 62, and an unidentified 52-year-old man found in the Lincoln Heights area. In addition to these shootings, Nicholas Simbolon, 42, was shot dead at his home in San Dimas on the evening of November 28.
Authorities were able to identify Powell as a suspect after obtaining surveillance images of a vehicle believed to be involved in the crimes. A license plate reader in Beverly Hills alerted the police, leading to Powell’s arrest.
District Attorney George Gascón expressed his gratitude to the law enforcement officials involved in the investigation and arrest, stating that their swift actions undoubtedly saved lives. If convicted on all charges, Powell could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The shootings in Los Angeles highlight the ongoing crisis of homelessness in the county, where more than 75,000 people were homeless as of January. Advocates for homeless individuals stress 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 on Friday, one of them fatally. However, Las Vegas police have ruled out any connection between the shootings in Los Angeles and those in their jurisdiction.
This case also brings to mind the tragic series of stabbings in Orange County, California, where a man was charged with killing four homeless men between late 2011 and early 2012. Itzcoatl Ocampo, a former Marine, faced multiple murder charges but died while awaiting trial.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community awaits answers regarding the motives behind these senseless acts of violence against vulnerable individuals.