Police Probe Suspected LA Serial Killer’s Past ‘Violence,’ Believe There Could Be More Victims After California Shooting Spree

Authorities are concerned that the alleged behavior and past “violence” of a suspect accused of killing three homeless people and another man this week in California may mean there could be more victims of his crimes.

Police on Saturday announced the arrest of Jerrid Joseph Powell after the shootings of three homeless men in Los Angeles earlier in the week that officials feared could be the work of a serial killer. He is also accused of following a California father home from an electric vehicle charging station and killing him in San Dimas. 

The murders of the homeless men occurred on Nov. 26, 27 and 29, and they were killed as they slept in downtown and south L.A., police said. Nicholas Simbolon, the other victim, was attacked on Nov. 28.

Powell was taken into custody in connection to Simbolon's case on Thursday, police said Saturday.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said at a press conference that the convicted felon’s alleged behavior and past “violence” is concerning and may mean there are more victims. 

“So did this person start Sunday morning and this is the limit? It begs the question… and this will be something that will work with our federal partners as well to see what his movements are, what his life patterns are,” Moore said. “How did he exist, and where did he exist? And is there a path of destruction behind him that we have not yet determined?”

Moore declined to elaborate on the suspect's criminal history. 

“He has violence in his background, we’ll not go into details of that. That violence is not most recent. It's been some years back,” he said. 

LAPD later shared a post on the social media platform X calling for information on any potential additional victims. 

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said at the press conference that the “possibility absolutely exists” that there could be other victims.  

“I know based on his criminal history, he didn't just start doing this a week ago,” Luna said. 

He encouraged anyone with information to come forward. 

“If anybody believes that they may have been a victim of a crime and this individual perpetrated it, you need to contact us right away,” Luna said. “Because at the end of the day, we want to make sure that if he did commit other crimes that he's held accountable for each and every one of them.”