Murder charges filed over 405 Freeway crash that killed LAPD sergeant and motorist

Mario Joseph Bickham, 36, faces two counts of second-degree murder after a 112 mph crash killed LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and Jesús Garcia near Bel Air.

Man charged with murder over fatal 405 Freeway crash that killed officer and motorist

A 36-year-old Hawthorne man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder following a high-speed crash on the southbound 405 Freeway near the Getty Center that killed an LAPD sergeant and another driver last summer, abc7.com reports.

Mario Joseph Bickham was arrested at his home on Monday after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced the charges. Prosecutors allege he was travelling at more than 112 mph at the time of the collision on 23 June 2025.

The victims were LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng, 53, and Jesús Garcia, 34. According to the DA's office, Garcia had been struck in an earlier hit-and-run crash and Deng had stopped to assist him, activating his patrol car's emergency lights to warn approaching traffic. Bickham allegedly ploughed into both men and their vehicles before either could get clear.

"The aggressiveness of this driving has led to a situation for an absolutely callous disregard for life," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press conference.

California Highway Patrol Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris said Bickham braked before impact but the speed left no room to avoid the collision. "Despite braking seconds before impact, the speed was simply too great to avoid crashing into Sgt. Deng's patrol vehicle, disabled truck and both victims," Margaris said.

Prosecutors also noted that Bickham had a prior citation for driving 105 mph — issued just one month before the fatal crash — and had failed to appear in court for that matter.

If convicted on both counts, Bickham faces up to 15 years to life in state prison per victim, the DA's office said.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell paid tribute to the slain sergeant, who had served the department for 26½ years, 17 of them in its Mental Evaluation Unit. Deng was promoted to sergeant in 2023 and was assigned to the West Los Angeles Division at the time of his death.

"Today is about more than an arrest. It's about remembering Sgt. Shiou Deng. For more than 26 years, Sgt. Deng served the people of Los Angeles with honour, integrity and compassion," McDonnell said.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)