On November 26, 2023, at approximately 3 a.m., 37-year-old Jose Bolanos was found deceased in an alley near 836 W 110th Street in South Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County coroner's office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, classifying it as a homicide.
Bolanos's death was part of a tragic series of shootings targeting homeless individuals in Los Angeles over a four-day period.
The following day, November 27, 62-year-old Mark Diggs was fatally shot while pushing a shopping cart near downtown Los Angeles. On November 29, 52-year-old Shawn Alvarez was found dead from a gunshot wound in the Lincoln Heights area.
Authorities arrested 33-year-old Los Angeles resident, Jerrid Joseph Powell, in connection with these homicides. Powell was initially apprehended on November 30 for the shooting death and robbery of 42-year-old Nicholas Simbolon in San Dimas. Subsequent investigations linked Powell to the murders of Bolanos, Diggs, and Alvarez through ballistic evidence connecting a firearm found in his vehicle to the shootings.
Powell has been charged with four counts of murder, one count of residential robbery, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a robbery, which could result in a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted.
The motive behind these attacks remains unclear, as authorities have not established any connections between Powell and the victims. Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore emphasized the swift collaboration between law enforcement agencies in apprehending Powell, preventing further potential violence.
These tragic events have heightened concerns about the safety of homeless individuals in Los Angeles, prompting increased efforts to provide shelter and protection for this vulnerable population. Community leaders and law enforcement continue to work together to address the underlying issues contributing to such acts of violence.
