A man has been charged with four counts of murder on Monday by prosecutors. This comes after a series of shootings that resulted in the deaths of three homeless men across Los Angeles last week.
Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, faced charges of four counts of murder, one count of robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Monday afternoon, he appeared in a downtown courtroom but chose not to enter a plea. His arraignment, originally set for January, was postponed, and he was subsequently remanded into custody without bail.
Los Angeles County District Attorney, George Gascón, expressed his utmost gratitude to the dedicated men and women in law enforcement who displayed relentless efforts in ensuring justice for our community and apprehending the perpetrator. In a statement, he acknowledged their swift actions, emphasizing that they undoubtedly saved lives during this critical time.
The prosecutors have also included special circumstances allegations, accusing Powell of committing multiple murders. If he is found guilty as charged, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Authorities have reported that the series of attacks initiated by Powell, a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, commenced in the early hours of November 26th. At approximately 3:10 a.m., Jose Bolanos, a 37-year-old individual, was shot while peacefully sleeping on a couch near the intersection of 110th Street and Vermont Avenue.
Around 24 hours later, Powell allegedly targeted 62-year-old Mark Diggs on San Mateo Street in the vicinity of the Arts District. Diggs, who was pushing a shopping cart and searching for a spot to charge his phone, became the victim of Powell’s attack, according to prosecutors.
In the early hours of November 29th, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a tragic incident occurred in Lincoln Heights. According to the police, Shawn Alvarez, aged 52, was fatally shot, becoming the third victim of this senseless act of violence.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore stated on Saturday that the motive behind the slayings has not yet been identified. However, he confirmed that Powell did not rob the victims and had no prior interaction with them. Chief Moore further described a disturbing video of Diggs’ killing, emphasizing that Powell shot him without any warning or provocation.
According to Robbery-Homicide Division Capt. Scot Williams, investigators are currently exploring all aspects of Powell’s life to determine a possible motive for the shootings. However, at this stage, it remains a mystery.
Powell was taken into custody on Wednesday night in Beverly Hills following a routine traffic stop. The authorities had connected his vehicle to a deadly shooting that occurred three days earlier in San Dimas.
According to police, Powell escaped from the scene driving a 2024 BMW M440i, a luxury vehicle that he allegedly owns and is valued at over $62,000. Law enforcement officers located the car in Beverly Hills three days later and conducted a traffic stop, leading to Powell’s arrest. It wasn’t until late Friday or early Saturday that authorities connected him to the homicides of the homeless individuals.
It remains uncertain whether Powell was employed at the time, as he was represented by a public defender. Transparent California’s public salary data from 2016 indicates that he had previously served as a gang intervention specialist for the city of Compton.
According to court records, Powell has a long history of criminal and legal involvement in California.
He had a conviction for driving with a suspended or revoked license in 2017, and another conviction for trespassing in 2019.
He had two restraining orders filed against him before those offenses. One was filed in 2013 by a woman in Los Angeles, and the other was filed in 2016 by a woman in San Bernardino. However, both of them were quickly dropped.
According to the woman, Powell had a tendency to lose his temper frequently. She described it as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation.
According to her, Powell would frequently become upset over the smallest things. “Whether it was a windy day or chilly weather, or if something wasn’t done to his satisfaction, he would lash out,” she explained.
When she filed for a restraining order in June 2016 and left the apartment she shared with Powell, she expected her name to be removed from the lease. However, despite this expectation, her name remained on the lease, and she ended up having to pay the rental company almost $6,000.
Upon hearing about the killings from a news story, the woman, who resides out of state, felt a wave of concern wash over her as she contemplated the possibility of being one of the victims.
According to court records reviewed by The Times, Powell was charged with assault with a deadly weapon in 2018 after he stabbed a man with a knife. While most of the crimes Powell is accused of committing were low-level offenses, this particular incident stood out.
According to court records, he admitted his guilt for a lesser felony in that particular case and was incarcerated for almost 400 days.
According to Moore, investigators will be conducting a thorough analysis of Powell’s movements in order to determine if he left a trail of destruction that has yet to be discovered. Luna also commented on Powell’s criminal history, stating that based on his past, it is evident that he did not recently start engaging in such activities.
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