Man Charged with Four Counts of Murder in Fatal Shootings of Homeless Men and Resident

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Title: Suspect Charged with Four Counts of Murder in Los Angeles Homeless Shootings Case

Subtitle: Arrested Man Faces Multiple Charges, Including Residential Robbery and Possession of a Firearm

Los Angeles, California – Prosecutors have officially charged Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old man, with four counts of murder in connection with the recent fatal shootings of three homeless men and a suburban resident. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Powell is also facing one count of residential robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Additionally, he is accused of committing multiple murders, murder during a robbery, and personal use of a firearm. Powell’s arraignment is scheduled for later today. At present, it is unclear whether he has legal representation.

Powell’s arrest initially took place last week following a deadly shooting during a robbery in San Dimas, a community situated east of Los Angeles. However, authorities later identified him as a suspect in the killings of the three homeless men after a firearm discovered in his vehicle was linked to those shootings.

During a recent press conference, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore stated that the motive behind the homeless victims’ killings remains unknown. The victims have been identified as Jose Bolanos, 37, who was found dead with a gunshot wound in South Los Angeles on November 26; Mark Diggs, 62, who was shot and killed while pushing a shopping cart near downtown Los Angeles on November 27; and an unidentified 52-year-old man whose body was discovered in the Lincoln Heights area on November 29. The fourth victim, Nicholas Simbolon, 42, was fatally shot at his residence in San Dimas on the evening of November 28.

Authorities obtained surveillance images of a suspect vehicle believed to be connected to the killings and subsequently made a traffic stop in Beverly Hills. The license plate reader installed in the area alerted the police, leading to Powell’s arrest.

District Attorney George Gascón expressed his gratitude to the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and arrest, stating, “The swift actions of law enforcement undoubtedly saved lives this week.” If convicted on all charges, Powell could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The recent incident sheds light on the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles County, which is home to over 10 million residents and accounts for more than one-fifth of the nation’s homeless population, according to a 2022 federal tally. As of January, there were over 75,000 homeless individuals across the county on any given night. Advocates for the homeless emphasize that those living on the streets are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

In a separate incident, five homeless individuals were shot in Las Vegas on Friday, with one fatality. Authorities are currently searching for a lone suspect in connection with this case.

This case also brings to mind a series of stabbings that occurred in Orange County, California, between late 2011 and early 2012, where four homeless men lost their lives. Itzcoatl Ocampo, a former Marine, was charged with four counts of murder in that case. However, Ocampo died while awaiting trial after reportedly ingesting cleanser he had collected while in custody.

The investigation into the recent shootings is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather additional evidence to build a strong case against Powell.

Associated Press.