Suspect Identified in Murders of Homeless Individuals in Los Angeles; Jerrid Joseph Powell in Custody

Accident – Death – Obituary News : (London) – The Los Angeles Police Department has successfully identified the suspect behind the brutal murders of three individuals from the city’s homeless community. According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, the suspect has been named as Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old African American resident of Los Angeles. In a shocking twist, Powell is also believed to be responsible for a fatal shooting during a robbery in San Dimas, a city located approximately 28 miles east of Los Angeles. Authorities have confirmed that Powell was already in custody in connection with the San Dimas incident.

Powell’s arrest took place on Wednesday evening when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted a vehicle stop. Coincidentally, this was the same day as the third homeless victim’s tragic demise. The vehicle used in the San Dimas robbery was subsequently linked to the three homicides, providing crucial evidence in the case.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna confirmed that no connection has been found between Powell and the victim of the robbery. As of now, investigators have not determined a motive for the crimes. Chief Moore expressed his gratitude for Powell’s arrest, stating, “I am grateful that this suspect in this case is in custody and no longer a threat to our community.”

The first killing occurred in an alley at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the second murder on Monday shortly before 5 a.m. The third victim was fatally attacked in the early hours of Wednesday around 2:30 a.m. The victims include two Hispanic men, aged 37 and 52, as well as a 62-year-old African American man.

Chief Moore emphasized that each killing took place under similar circumstances. The victims were all believed to be sleeping alone when they were targeted by a single assailant. The perpetrator approached them while they were asleep, opened fire, and calmly walked away. All three victims were homeless individuals, slain in open areas such as sidewalks or alleys.

The crime scenes were spread across different locations within the city, including one near Skid Row, a downtown area notorious for its large homeless population. Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles expressed her concern for the city’s unhoused community, which already faces perilous conditions on a daily basis. Tragically, four to five unhoused individuals perish every day, often due to violence.

Following a press conference on Friday, Mayor Bass convened a meeting with over 400 representatives from various city departments, housing service providers, regional agencies, and elected officials. The aim was to raise awareness about the threat posed to the homeless community and to ensure that individuals were informed about the danger.

In an unrelated incident, a shooting occurred at a homeless encampment in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. However, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department quickly determined that this incident was not connected to the fatal shootings in the Los Angeles area.

The identification and arrest of Jerrid Joseph Powell bring hope for justice to the affected community, as Los Angeles seeks to address the ongoing challenges faced by its vulnerable homeless population..