12-02-2023 9:01pm

Suspect apprehended in the Killings of three Homeless Men

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

LOS ANGELES-The suspect wanted in the three deadly shootings of homeless individuals in Los Angeles is an adult male currently in custody, who was apprehended this week.

The suspect was arrested in connection to a murder that occurred on Tuesday of a citizen in San Dimas, who was shot during a follow-home theft, law enforcement officials reported on December 2.

The suspect identified as 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell, was formally captured on Saturday for the murder of the three homeless males, shot while snoozing alone on a sidewalk or an alleyway.

At a news conference, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said the suspect allegedly followed Nicholas Simbolon, 42, a staff member of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office, from a charging station in West Covina to his residence, Where he stole the victim's items and then shot him, exiting the scene, officers said.

Investigators say during the investigation of the killings, they identified the automobile thought to be connected to all three homicides Powell used in the murder of Mr. Simbolon," said Moore.

A firearm recovered from Powell's automobile was the exact weapon used in the three murders, Moore says.

At roughly 3 a.m. on Sunday in the 800 block of West 110th Street, the first murder was committed, followed by another killing at approximately 5 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of East Seventh Street, and the last murder occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at South Avenue 18 and South Pasadena Avenue, Moore stated.

"Each of the victims was in an open area, be it a sidewalk or alley, they were alone,'' Moore said previously. "... We believe a single individual approached each one and shot and killed each one as they slept."

The victim killed in Sunday's shooting was Jose Bolanos, 37. Mark Diggs, 62 was killed on Monday. The victim murdered on Wednesday was a 52-year-old male, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family.

Simbolon was discovered by his wife inside his vehicle in the garage. , he'd sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body, according to witnesses and officials. Paramedics assessed and pronounced him deceased at the scene police said.

Officials said there's no known connection between the four murders and no known association between Powell and Simbolon.

By Anita Johnson-Brown