By: Lucy Panicacci

Local News

On Dec. 4, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office accused Jerrid Joseph Powell of shooting three homeless men and robbing and murdering another Los Angeles resident. During the week of Nov. 26, Powell went on a four-day killing spree, targeting homeless men as they slept. According to the district attorney’s office, Powell faces charges for four counts of murder, one count of residential robbery, and one count of being a felon with a firearm. Following his arrest, District Attorney George Gascón stated, “I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the incredible men and women of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to bring justice in our community and arrest this individual. The swift actions of law enforcement undoubtedly saved lives this week.” 

Police report that Powell’s motive is unknown, stating that he did not have any previous connections with any of his victims. After reportedly following him home from a vehicle charging station, Powell murdered Nicholas Simbolon, a 42-year-old Los Angeles County worker, as he parked inside his garage. Powell went on to commit three more murders within four days. At 3 AM on Nov. 26, Powell shot Jose Balanos, 37, while he was sleeping on a couch in an alley. The following morning at 5 AM, Powell fatally shot 62-year-old Mark Diggs as he leaned against the back of a building. On Nov. 29, Powell killed his fourth victim, a 52-year-old man whose name was not released by police, as he slept on the sidewalk. 

During the spree, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass issued warnings to the 1,300 unsheltered Los Angeles residents, stating, “This is a killer who is preying on the unhoused.” In addition, Bass advised the homeless population to find shelter and avoid sleeping on the city’s streets, urging, “Seek shelter, seek services, stay together, seek support.” 

To catch the serial killer, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) used controversial surveillance technology. Investigators utilized license tracking, entering Powell’s license plate number into their tracking system. When the license plate reader tags the selected plate number, it alerts police to the suspect’s location. Many residents consider this technology an invasion of privacy due to the tracking and storing of people’s locations. However, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna defended the scanner system at a news conference on Dec. 2, stating, “If we did not enter that plate into the system, this individual that we believe is responsible for at least four murders may have been out there and reoffended.”

Due to the amount of violence committed within a short time period, detectives continue to investigate Powell’s killings, examining unsolved murders around Southern California. Chief Michel Moore stated, “We’re unclear whether or not he has any prior violence that may have been unsolved or undetected to this point.” The LAPD currently holds Powell without bail. The district attorney’s office reports that, if convicted, Powell could face up to life in prison without parole. 

(Sources: CBS, CNN, NBC)