SANTA MONICA, CA – A woman, aged 27, has been charged with murder following a fatal motorist shooting incident last week in Santa Monica. Los Angeles resident William Edwards III, 46, was reportedly found seriously injured inside his parked car on Jan. 25 in response to a shooting alert. Edwards was later pronounced dead at a hospital as a result of his injuries.
Authorities identified Kayla Delise Mackie as the perpetrator, and she was apprehended from West Los Angeles the following morning. Mackie is described by police as “currently experiencing homelessness.” She is allegedly connected to more crimes in Los Angeles, including an armed robbery and an attempted homicide incident. This additional criminal involvement was disclosed through a news release on X (previously known as Twitter) by the Santa Monica Police Department.
Even with the ongoing investigation, the motive behind the shooting remains unidentified. The Mayor of Santa Monica, Phil Brock, expressed his sentiments on the “senseless” act. He extended his condolences to William’s family and friends, acknowledging all affected by the heartrending event.
On Tuesday, the District Attorney leveled a murder charge on Mackie in relation to the Santa Monica homicide, and additional charges surfaced related to the other incidents, as confirmed by police.
Thanks to useful witness descriptions, the Santa Monica Police Department expressed their gratitude to the public for their significant role in identifying and locating Mackey.