Fatal Shootings of Three Homeless Men and Suburban Resident: Charges Filed Against Jerrid Joseph Powell

Accident – death – Obituary News : Prosecutors have officially charged Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old man, in connection with the fatal shootings of three homeless men in Los Angeles and a suburban resident last month. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced four counts of murder against Powell, along with additional charges of residential robbery and being a felon with a firearm. Powell appeared in court on Monday accompanied by his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Carlos Bido, but did not enter a plea. The arraignment has been continued to January 8.

The charges against Powell include special circumstances such as committing multiple murders, murder during a robbery, and personal use of a firearm allegations. Initially, Powell was arrested last week as a suspect in a deadly shooting during a robbery in San Dimas, located east of Los Angeles. However, further investigation linked him to the killings of the three homeless men when a firearm found in his car was connected to those 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, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in South Los Angeles on November 26. Mark Diggs, 62, was shot and killed near downtown Los Angeles on November 27. Additionally, an unidentified 52-year-old man was found dead in the Lincoln Heights area on November 29. Nicholas Simbolon, 42, was shot dead at his home in San Dimas on November 28.

Powell’s arrest came after surveillance images of a suspect vehicle and a license plate reader alert in Beverly Hills led to a traffic stop.

In a statement, the public defender’s office emphasized their commitment to a vigorous defense, stating, “Mr. Powell remains presumed innocent until proven otherwise.”

District Attorney George Gascón expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their swift actions, stating, “The swift actions of law enforcement undoubtedly saved lives this week.” If convicted on all charges, Powell faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Los Angeles County, home to more than 10 million people, is facing a significant homelessness crisis. The latest official count in January 2022 revealed over 75,000 people homeless across the county. Homeless advocates highlight the vulnerability of those living on the streets to violence.

In a separate incident, five homeless people were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, resulting in one fatality. However, Las Vegas police have ruled out any correlation with the Los Angeles shootings. Similarly, in Orange County, California, a man previously faced charges for killing four homeless men in a series of stabbings from late 2011 to early 2012, underscoring the persistent risks faced by homeless populations.

The information in this article was sourced from the Associated Press..