Suspect Identified in Shootings of Homeless Men in Los Angeles: Jerrid Joseph Powell

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Los Angeles Man Arrested for Killings of Homeless Men Identified

LOS ANGELES — The suspect in the recent killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles has been identified as Jerrid Joseph Powell, a Los Angeles man currently in custody for another shooting investigation, according to police.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore announced on Saturday that Powell, 33, was linked to the three killings after a firearm found in a vehicle he was driving when he was arrested earlier was determined to be connected to the shootings.

Powell had been taken into custody by Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies this week for the shooting death and robbery of a 42-year-old man in San Dimas, a community located about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

The announcement comes after Los Angeles authorities had been searching for a suspect in the shootings of the three homeless men and had urged homeless individuals to not sleep alone for their own safety. The shootings occurred at the end of November during the early morning hours while the victims were sleeping or preparing to sleep.

The victims have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead in an alley in South Los Angeles on November 26, Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed near downtown Los Angeles while pushing a shopping cart on November 27, and an unidentified 52-year-old man whose body was found in the Lincoln Heights area on November 29.

Los Angeles County has the highest population in the nation, with about 10 million people, and is home to more than one in five of the nation’s homeless individuals, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, over 75,000 people were homeless across the county on any given night.

Following the shooting in San Dimas, detectives identified Powell’s vehicle through surveillance footage and traced it to Beverly Hills, where he was stopped and arrested. The firearm was found in his possession during the arrest.

Moore expressed his gratitude that Powell is in custody and no longer a threat to the community. Powell is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. He is currently being held on $2 million bail.

Moore also urged the public to come forward with any additional information, stating that authorities do not believe there is any connection between Powell and the victims. He credited the quick identification of the suspect to the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the use of surveillance technology.

The announcement of Powell’s identification comes after five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, one of whom died. Police in Las Vegas are currently searching for a lone suspect in that case.

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