Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : A 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. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, appeared in court on Monday accompanied by his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Carlos Bido, but did not enter a plea. His arraignment has been scheduled for January 8.
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 include special circumstances of committing multiple murders, murder in the course of a robbery, as well as personal use of a firearm allegations.
Powell was initially arrested as a suspect in a deadly shooting during a robbery in San Dimas, east of Los Angeles. Further investigation led authorities to link Powell to the killings of the three homeless men when a firearm found in his car matched the weapon used in the shootings.
The motive behind the killings of the homeless victims remains unknown, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. The victims include Jose Bolanos, 37, Mark Diggs, 62, and an unidentified 52-year-old man, who were all shot and killed in separate incidents. Additionally, Nicholas Simbolon, 42, was shot dead at his home in San Dimas.
Authorities expressed their gratitude to law enforcement officials for their efforts in apprehending Powell. District Attorney George Gascón stated, “The swift actions of law enforcement undoubtedly saved lives this week.”
If convicted on all charges, Powell could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Los Angeles County has a significant homeless population, with over 75,000 individuals without permanent housing. Advocates for homeless people emphasize 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. However, authorities have ruled out any correlation between the shootings in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
This case brings to mind a similar incident in Orange County, California, where a man was charged with killing four homeless men in a series of stabbings. Itzcoatl Ocampo, a former Marine, faced multiple murder charges but died in custody awaiting trial.
The investigation into the shootings in Los Angeles is ongoing, and further details will be revealed in due course.