July 6, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Suspect in Custody: Los Angeles Man Linked to Serial Homeless Murders and San Dimas Slaying

Authorities Seek Information on Additional Crimes Suspect May Have Committed

By Dolores Quintana

On December 1, a press conference was held by the Los Angeles Police Department about a series of three separate murders that occurred between November 26, 2023, and November 29, 2023, all victims being homeless. The authorities’ belief was that a serial killer of unhoused residents of the city might be at work.

In response to the crisis, Mayor Karen Bass stated, “Our region is mobilizing to respond to this issue. We will work tirelessly to find the individual responsible, arrest them, and hold them accountable.” Chief Michel Moore affirmed that the LAPD is utilizing all available resources to investigate, and District Attorney George Gascón expressed commitment to the pursuit of justice. A joint task force was formed to investigate these heinous and disturbing crimes. 

The next day, Saturday, December 2, another surprise press conference was called, and during the conference, the announcement was made that a suspect in the murders was already in custody. 

The suspect is Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old Los Angeles man who was already in custody for a San Dimas follow-home robbery turned homicide. He has now been formally arrested as the suspect in the killings of three homeless men in separate shootings this week, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore. The shootings spanned four days, starting on Sunday, Nov. 26, in the southeast area of Los Angeles.

The victims include 37-year-old Jose Vamos, 62-year-old Mark Diggs, and a 52-year-old man who has not been identified pending notification of his relatives. Powell is also connected to the fatal shooting of 42-year-old Nicholas Simbolon in San Dimas. Surveillance footage revealed Powell following Simbolon from a charging station, robbing, and shooting him in his garage. Simbolon was an employee of the County of Los Angeles who lived in San Dimas.

Powell was arrested in the City of Beverly Hills after surveillance cameras identified his vehicle and officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department fed the information about his vehicle into the city’s controversial automatic license plate reading technology. Sheriff Luna stated that had the Beverly Hills PD not entered the information into the system, Powell might still be on the streets. 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has also announced that they need the public’s help to identify if there are any other crimes that the suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, may have committed. They have issued a bulletin asking the public to come forward if they have any additional information about the suspect and if they have any knowledge that could connect him to any other crimes he may have committed. Sheriff Luna stated, “Based on his criminal history, he didn’t just start doing this a week ago.”

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

UPenn Bans Trans Women From Women’s Sports in Controversial Title IX Deal

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Trump Administration Forces University to Reinstate Records, Issue Apologies The University of Pennsylvania has reached a resolution with the U.S....

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...