Police have discovered a suspect for the recent “serial” killings of three homeless men in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old they have identified was already in custody for another killing this week. Officials have described the suspect as a man driving a dark-colored sedan.
The killings of the homeless men prompted regional warnings to homeless people in Los Angeles, as the city is facing a significant homelessness crisis. Officials issued an alarm about a “serial killer” targeting homeless individuals across a 12-mile stretch in different parts of the city. Police Chief Michel Moore told reporters at a news conference that they have identified the suspect matching the profile of the shooter.
The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, has been accused of killing the homeless men over four consecutive days and an additional killing during a home invasion in San Dimas, a suburb east of Los Angeles. The killings have led to law enforcement officials warning homeless individuals to use shelters, avoid being alone, and stay in well-lit areas.
Powell was detained by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on a $2 million bond, and the killings of the homeless men will undergo a review by prosecutors. This situation has reignited dialogue around the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles and the growing dangers that unhoused individuals face every day.
The recent events in Los Angeles shed light on the rising violence targeting homeless people across the country. In Las Vegas, a shooting occurred at an encampment where homeless individuals were living, resulting in one fatality and four others wounded. The authorities have urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
The recent killings of unhoused individuals in Los Angeles and Las Vegas underscore the growing need for solutions to the homelessness crisis, as well as the urgency of providing a safe environment for vulnerable communities.