Suspect Arrested in Serial Killings of Homeless Men in Los Angeles, Including the Murder of Nicholas Simbolon

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Suspect Arrested in Connection with Serial Killings of Homeless Men in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — In a shocking turn of events, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that a suspect has been apprehended in connection with a series of fatal shootings that occurred in the city this week. The killings, which targeted three homeless men and another individual during a home robbery, have been linked to a single suspect, identified as Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33.

The three unhoused victims were all shot while they were sleeping alone on a sidewalk or in an alley. The shootings took place over a span of four days, from Sunday to Wednesday. The suspect was already in custody for another homicide involving a home robbery that occurred earlier in the week in Los Angeles County.

Authorities had been actively seeking a potential serial killer in the shootings of the homeless men when they made the breakthrough in the investigation. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed relief at the suspect’s capture, stating, “Twenty-four hours ago we announced there was a killer on the loose. Now he is in custody.”

According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, Powell’s vehicle was present at all three homicide scenes involving the homeless men. Furthermore, a handgun recovered from the vehicle was positively identified as the murder weapon. Both the vehicle and the weapon were also linked to the home robbery shooting.

The first victim, a 37-year-old man, was tragically killed around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The second victim, aged 62, fell victim to the senseless violence at approximately 4:55 a.m. on Monday. Lastly, the third victim, a 52-year-old man, lost his life around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Chief Moore emphasized that the men were murdered without any provocation, leaving authorities puzzled about the motive behind the killings.

The home robbery shooting, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in the death of a 42-year-old man named Nicholas Simbolon. Powell is accused of following Simbolon from a charging station in West Covina to his home in San Dimas before ruthlessly shooting him and fleeing the scene. Simbolon, a father of two, worked for the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office as a project manager in the I.T. department.

Detectives were able to identify Powell as a suspect in the home robbery shooting through surveillance footage, which captured a 2024 Gray BMW as a vehicle of interest. The car was promptly flagged as “Wanted, Armed and Dangerous” in a law enforcement database. Utilizing an automatic license plate reader system, law enforcement successfully located and arrested Powell during a traffic stop in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night.

Powell was booked early Thursday on charges of robbery and murder. He is currently being held on a bail amount of $2.1 million. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore commended the use of advanced tools, such as the automatic license plate reader system, which played a crucial role in the swift apprehension of the suspect. He expressed his belief that, without access to these tools, Powell may have continued to roam the city, posing a threat to innocent and vulnerable individuals.

Authorities are now investigating whether the suspect may be connected to any other unsolved cases. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna urged potential victims of crimes committed by Powell to come forward and contact law enforcement immediately.

The arrest of the suspect brings a sense of relief to the community, particularly the homeless population who were living in fear during the hunt for the killer. As the investigation continues, authorities will work diligently to ensure justice is served for all the victims and their grieving families..