Los Angeles police arrest suspected serial killer 33-year-old Jerrid Joseph Powell who killed 4 people, including 3 homeless men

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at approximately 6:55 PM, Mr. Nicholas Simbolon, a 42-year-old resident of San Dimas, arrived home on the 1800 block of Hawkbrook Drive in the city of San Dimas and parked his vehicle in his garage when a suspect, who has now been identified as Jerrid Joseph Powell, a 33-year-old male from Los Angeles, entered the garage and robbed the victim of some personal belongings.

Upon taking the personal belongings, the suspect senselessly shot the victim and fled the crime scene.

The spouse of the victim found Mr. Simbolon unresponsive in the garage and called 9-1-1. Deputies from the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station, along with members from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, responded and learned the victim suffered from a gunshot wound to his upper body.

Despite the Fire Department’s best efforts to treat the victim for the gunshot wound, regrettably, victim Simbolon succumbed to his injury.

After an exhaustive investigation, Homicide Detectives obtained surveillance footage that revealed the victim was likely followed home from an electric vehicle charging station located on the 200 block of South Citrus Street in the city of West Covina.

Homicide detectives were able to identify a vehicle of interest from surveillance footage that led to the identity of the suspect. They entered the suspect vehicle into a law enforcement database as a “Wanted, Armed and Dangerous” vehicle.

Officers from the Beverly Hills Police Department located the suspect’s vehicle on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills. A traffic stop of the suspect vehicle was conducted and Jerrid Joseph Powell was located as the sole occupant of the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, a firearm was found. Homicide detectives believe the gun that was recovered in the suspect’s vehicle was likely used in the robbery-murder; however, a ballistic examination of the firearm will be performed to determine if the firearm was connected with this murder.

Beverly Hills Police Department transferred Suspect Powell to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where he was booked for robbery and murder and is held with a $2,100,000 bail. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their filing consideration on Monday, December 4, 2023.

It appears that the robbery and senseless murder was an isolated incident and there has been no evidence to indicate that the suspect acted in concert with others; however, Homicide detectives have not ruled out that possibility.

Victim Simbolon’s employment does not appear to be a factor in the murder. The investigation is still ongoing. Detectives are still combing over evidence and analyzing footage.

“Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Simbolon, who are facing an unimaginable loss.” Sheriff Robert Luna expressed his condolences to Mr. Simbolon’s family and to fellow employees of the County of Los Angeles. Mr. Simbolon was a tenured Los Angeles County employee who worked for the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office (CEO) as a project manager in the I.T. department. He is survived by his spouse, his two sons (ages 8 and 10) and his mother.

Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer, Fesia Davenport regarded Mr. Simbolon in that “he was key in developing application software that help propel the office forward and also to help our mission to deliver services to citizens and residents of LA County.”

Justice Deputy for Board of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Sandra Croxton delivered remarks on behalf of Supervisor Barger. “The entire county family joins his loved ones in mourning his loss. He will be greatly missed.”

San Dimas City Mayor, Emmett Badar also expressed his condolences. “Our prayers are with the family and we certainly want the community to know that we’ll be there to support them.”

The suspect’s vehicle description was a 2024 Gray BMW 440i 4-door with California license plate “9JOE329”. If anyone recognizes the above vehicle description from any possible robberies, please contact LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

No further details will be released at this time to maintain the integrity of the investigation.