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Arrest made in killings of 3 homeless people in Los Angeles – suspect already in jail over 4th victim

December 3, 2023 | | Print Article

Los Angeles officials lauded the arrest of a suspect alleged to have killed three homeless people investigators found was already in custody over a fourth victim.

(Video: KTLA)

Following a Friday press conference held by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) and other officials detailing their efforts to ensure the safety of the city’s homeless population from a suspected “serial killer,” investigators learned that their suspect had been apprehended one day prior for allegedly killing a father of two at the man’s home in San Dimas, California.

Los Angeles authorities detailed that 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell was believed to have followed the 42-year-old victim, Nicholas Simbolon, home from an electric vehicle charging station Tuesday where he proceeded to rob and fatally shoot the man.

Speaking with the press Saturday, LAPD Chief Michel Moore referred to a “striking set of circumstances that is puzzling” about the case while asserting that a firearm found in the vehicle Powell had been arrested in matched the weapon used in the killing of three homeless men in a span of four days the same week.

“Over the course of the investigation of our murders, we were able to identify the vehicle we believe is connected to our three homicides as being the same vehicle that Mr. Powell used in the murder of Mr. Simbolon,” said Moore.

“[We learned] that it was being held in custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as evidence of their murder,” he added.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna spoke to concerns over the automatic license plate reader system that had been utilized to conduct the traffic stop that led to Powell’s arrest when he said, “We know there’s controversy out there about the usage of this system, but let me tell our community something. If we did not enter that plate into the system, this individual that we believe is responsible for at least four murders may have [still] been out there and reoffended.”

“The next objective is to put this guy away at a minimum forever, because he doesn’t deserve to be out on the street,” he argued before encouraging anyone with testimony to add related to the suspect to come forward. “We want to make sure that anybody who may have been a victim of this individual that they come forward and notify your own police department.”

Bass, who had warned the homeless “do not sleep alone” and had taken measures to provide emergency shelters amid concerns about the killer praised the efforts of officials for the response.

“Twenty-four hours ago, we announced there was a killer on the loose, now he is in custody,” she said. “Right after the conclusion of yesterday’s press conference, my office was able to convene more than four hundred people representing city departments, housing service providers, regional agencies…and elected officials at the city and county level to ensure that they would [get the word out] about the threat facing our unhoused community.”

Powell had been arrested for murder and robbery charges over the death of Simbolon, but charges regarding the homeless victims had not been announced at the Saturday conference.

Kevin Haggerty
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