Driver who was allegedly doing over 100 mph charged with murder in death of LAPD officer - BERITAJA

A man who was allegedly driving astatine speeds of much than 100 miles per hr was charged Monday pinch execution for slamming into a Los Angeles constabulary serviceman who pulled to the broadside of the 405 Freeway to thief different motorist, prosecutors said.

Mario Joseph Bickham, 36, was charged pinch 2 counts of execution for the deaths of LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and Jesus Garcia, 34, according to a criminal title revenge Monday. Prosecutors allege Bickham was walking astatine about 112 miles per hr adjacent the Getty Center exit about 2 a.m. connected June 23, 2025, erstwhile he plowed into Deng, who had conscionable exited his car to thief Garcia, according to tribunal records.

Deng, a 26-year seasoned of the department, was pronounced dormant astatine an area infirmary a short clip later.

Garcia’s conveyance had conscionable been struck by different car and was disabled. Another conveyance walking astatine 70 miles per hr had collapsed into the median obstruction to debar striking Garcia conscionable earlier Deng pulled up, according to a mobility seeking to contradict Bickham from being granted bail.

Prosecutors said Bickham had a history of driving astatine excessive speeds. The period earlier the deadly collision, a California Highway Patrol serviceman cited Bickham for driving astatine 105 miles per hour, according to the title revenge by prosecutors. He had besides been progressive successful aggregate car accidents making love backmost to 2014, according to the bail motion. He has nary different criminal history, records show.

It was not instantly clear who Bickham’s lawyer was aliases erstwhile he would make his first quality successful court.

Deng spent overmuch of his profession assigned to the LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit, which helps officers respond to situation calls. He was survived by his woman and stepdaughter, and was the superior caretaker for his aged parents astatine the clip of his death, section officials said past year.

“He brought ray to a batch of situations particularly during the academy and throughout... He did the champion he could, the full clip he was successful the section ... He embodies each the halfway values that we guidelines for here,” LAPD Det. Victor Lopez said of his fallen colleague past year.

After his death, scores of mourners gathered extracurricular the West L.A. position location wherever Deng worked to observe his clip connected the job.

Colleagues and friends remembered him arsenic a bull who wanted to make a difference. Deng, immoderate recalled, ne'er mislaid his cheerful attitude, moreover erstwhile he took connected challenging roles arsenic a pack bull connected the city’s southbound end.

“He was known for putting others earlier himself and ne'er seeking nickname and ever showing up for those who needed help,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said astatine a news convention Monday.

Times Staff Writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.