A 44-year-old Inglewood man allegedly killed and robbed two males he met by way of a relationship web site earlier than savagely beating a 3rd, prosecutors mentioned Monday.
Rockim Prowell was charged with two counts of homicide, one rely of tried homicide and a number of counts of carjacking and housebreaking in a string of assaults from 2021 to 2025, based on a prison criticism made public Monday. In every case, Los Angeles County prosecutors mentioned, Prowell met his victims by way of on-line relationship.
“Think about the phobia and horror these victims felt after being duped into believing they had been assembly for one cause, solely to face inexplicable violence,” Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman mentioned in an announcement. “These had 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 a relationship app, based on a information launch issued Monday by the district lawyer’s workplace. Prosecutors allege that Prowell shot King and stole his automobile, which was discovered every week later. Forensic proof collected from the automobile linked Prowell to the killing, based on the district lawyer’s workplace. King’s stays had been discovered within the Angeles Nationwide Forest the subsequent month.
On the time of King’s dying, Prowell was awaiting trial on a number of counts of housebreaking and theft. He was arrested in Could 2021, court docket information present, and allegedly killed King two months earlier than the district lawyer’s workplace supplied 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 establish the relationship 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. 16, based on a district lawyer’s workplace spokesperson.
In August 2023, prosecutors mentioned Prowell met up with Robert Gutierrez, 53, after once more utilizing a relationship web site to attach.
Gutierrez’s household reported him lacking every 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 automobile in his storage.
This 12 months, prosecutors say Prowell additionally lured a 40-year-old man to fulfill him by way of the identical relationship web site, after which he “sure the sufferer, stole his pockets and beat him with a baseball bat,” based on 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 dying penalty in opposition to Prowell, however a choice on whether or not to take action should be authorised by a committee throughout the district lawyer’s workplace.
