A 44-year-old Inglewood man allegedly killed and robbed two males he met by way of a courting web site earlier than savagely beating a 3rd, prosecutors mentioned Monday.
Rockim Prowell was charged with two counts of homicide, one depend of tried homicide and a number of counts of carjacking and housebreaking in a string of assaults from 2021 to 2025, in response to a prison criticism made public Monday. In every case, Los Angeles County prosecutors mentioned, Prowell met his victims by way of on-line courting.
“Think about the phobia and horror these victims felt after being duped into believing they have been assembly for one cause, solely to face inexplicable violence,” Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman mentioned in an announcement. “These have been predatory acts that confirmed a complete disregard of life.”
In July 2021, Prowell met up with Miguel Angel King, 51, after they related on the courting app, in response to a information launch issued Monday by the district lawyer’s workplace. Prosecutors allege that Prowell shot King and stole his automobile, which was discovered per week later. Forensic proof collected from the car linked Prowell to the killing, in response to the district lawyer’s workplace. King’s stays have been discovered within the Angeles Nationwide Forest the following month.
On the time of King’s demise, Prowell was awaiting trial on a number of counts of housebreaking and theft. He was arrested in Could 2021, court docket data present, and allegedly killed King two months earlier than the district lawyer’s workplace provided him a plea deal that positioned him on probation.
A spokesman for the district lawyer’s workplace declined to touch upon the prior plea settlement or determine the courting app utilized in every assault.
The L.A. County public defender’s workplace, which final represented Prowell in 2021, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Prowell was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, however his listening to was delayed to Oct. sixteenth, in response to a district lawyer’s workplace spokesperson.
In August 2023, prosecutors mentioned Prowell met up with Robert Gutierrez, 53, after once more utilizing a courting web site to attach.
Gutierrez’s household reported him lacking per week later and his physique was by no means discovered, prosecutors mentioned. However when Prowell was arrested final week, prosecutors mentioned they discovered Gutierrez’s car in his storage.
This yr, prosecutors say Prowell additionally lured a 40-year-old man to satisfy him by way of the identical courting web site, after which he “certain the sufferer, stole his pockets and beat him with a baseball bat,” in response to the information launch. The person escaped, however Prowell chased after him in a automobile, operating him over and breaking his leg.
Prosecutors might pursue the demise penalty in opposition to Prowell, however a choice on whether or not to take action have to be authorised by a committee throughout the district lawyer’s workplace.
