Elgin Nelson
Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was arrested and stood before trial after four fatal shootings occurred in the Los Angeles area this week. Powell was charged with four counts of murder, one count of robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The serial killings unfolded over four days, spanning from Sunday to Wednesday. Powell was already apprehended in connection with a separate home robbery that resulted in a homicide that took place earlier in the week in Los Angeles County.
“I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the incredible men and women of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to bring justice to our community and arrest this individual,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón said in a statement. “The swift actions of law enforcement undoubtedly saved lives this week.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Saturday that police had not identified a motive in the slayings but that Powell did not rob the victims and had “no interaction” with them. Robbery-Homicide Division Capt. Scot Williams said investigators are “looking into every aspect of Powell’s life” to discern a potential motive for the shootings, “but at this point, it is a mystery.”
Court records indicate that Powell has a substantial criminal and legal background in California. In 2017, he was convicted of driving with a suspended license— in 2019, he was convicted of trespassing. He also faced two restraining orders, one in 2013 from a woman in Los Angeles and another in 2016 from a woman in San Bernardino. Both restraining orders were dropped.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office deployed more than 400 people from city departments, housing service providers, and other regional agencies to warn unhoused people of any other threats that may surface following Powell’s arrest.
The mayor urged residents not to sleep alone on the city’s streets: “Seek shelter, seek services, stay together, seek support,” Bass said. “People experiencing homelessness in the city already face dangerous conditions every day.”
Powell’s scheduled arraignment is not until January, and he remains in custody without bail.