LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles authorities have identified a man already in custody in connection with another shooting investigation as the suspect in three recent killings of homeless men, the police announced on Saturday.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore revealed that Jerrid Joseph Powell, aged 33, was linked to the three killings after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving during a previous arrest was connected to the shootings.

Powell was apprehended earlier this week by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies for the investigation of the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man late Tuesday. The incident occurred when the victim returned to his home in San Dimas, a community located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles.

This revelation comes a day after Los Angeles authorities appealed to homeless individuals to avoid sleeping alone following the shootings of three homeless men. The incidents took place in late November during the early morning hours while the victims were asleep or preparing to rest for the night.

The first victim, Jose Bolanos, aged 37, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound in an alley in South Los Angeles around 3 a.m. on November 26, according to the police.

The following day, Mark Diggs, aged 62, was shot and killed around 5 a.m. while pushing a shopping cart near downtown, officials reported. The third shooting occurred on Wednesday, approximately 2:30 a.m., in the Lincoln Heights area, where the body of a 52-year-old man was found. The police have not yet released his identity pending family notification.

Los Angeles County, with its population of approximately 10 million people, is the most populous county in the nation and is home to more than one in five of the country’s homeless individuals, according to a 2022 federal survey. As of January, the most recent official count, over 75,000 people were homeless across the county on any given night.

Following the shooting in San Dimas, detectives utilized surveillance footage to identify Powell’s vehicle and traced it to Beverly Hills. On Wednesday, the police stopped Powell and found the firearm inside his vehicle, leading to his arrest.

“I am relieved that this suspect is now in custody and no longer poses a threat to our community,” stated Chief Moore during a press conference.

As of now, an attorney for Powell has not been identified. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Online jail records indicate that he was arrested on Thursday and is being held on $2 million bail.

Chief Moore urged the public to come forward with any additional information and confirmed that authorities do not believe there is a connection between Powell and the victims.

He went on to emphasize the quick collaboration between agencies in identifying the suspect, aided by the use of surveillance technology.

“If it weren’t for these tools, I am certain that this individual would still be freely moving about the city and the region, posing a threat and potentially taking more lives,” added Chief Moore.

This announcement follows a separate incident in Las Vegas on Friday, where five homeless people were shot, one of whom died. The police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect.