On Tuesday afternoon at about 2:15 p.m. Kayla Delise Mackie (27), the suspect in the Sunset Park murder last Thursday morning, January 25, had her arraignment at the Los Angeles County Court. The District Attorney’s Office filed a murder charge (187(a) PC) for the Santa Monica homicide along with additional charges related to other Los Angeles incidents.
After prior consultation between Public Defender E. John Myers and Deputy District Attorney Lucrecia Boado, Myers entered into the record a plea of not guilty with bail set at two million and fifty thousand dollars and a date was set of March 21, 2024, in department 31 in the Airport Courthouse. The Honorable Keith L. Schwartz was presiding.
Mackie looked on through the reinforced glass of the separate, soundproofed holding dock in the department 30 courtroom wearing blue prison fatigues and only muttered “yes” to confirm her name and that she understood the proceedings.
On January 25 at approximately 10:25 a.m., Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officers responded to a call of “shots fired” in the 2600 block of 29th Street, close to the intersection with Ocean Park Blvd. Officers located the victim of the shooting sitting inside of his parked vehicle.
The victim, identified as William James Edwards III, a 46-year-old Venice resident, was transported to a local hospital in grave condition and died at the hospital. The motive for the crime remains unclear and is still being investigated.
SMPD located Mackie the following morning in West Los Angeles where she was taken into custody. Further investigation revealed she was responsible for additional crimes in Los Angeles, including an armed robbery and an attempted homicide.
In a statement put out by the SMPD, Police Chief Ramon Batista said, “With unwavering dedication, the SMPD team applied tireless effort and professionalism to every aspect of the criminal investigation. Their relentless pursuit of the facts, coupled with meticulous hard work, reflects a commitment to justice. Our officers take pride in knowing their diligence contributes to upholding the principles of law and order. In Santa Monica, public safety is foremost, and crime will not be tolerated in our community.”
Credit: Facebook/William Edwards III
In response to this tragic incident, the local community has rallied to raise over $20,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Edwards was an industry-respected music producer by profession and a popular member of the local community. He is survived by two young sons, Levi and G. Williams IV.
Mayor Phil Brock also issued the following statement to the community,
“Last week’s senseless killing on 29th Street has left all of us shocked. My heart goes out to Mr. Edwards’ family and friends, and my thoughts are with all who were affected by this tragic event. Nothing can take away the pain this incident has brought to Mr. Edwards’ loved ones and our community as a whole. But I am proud of the outstanding police work our officers exhibited, quickly apprehending the suspect and ensuring she will be brought to justice. I stand behind the strong message from Santa Monica Police: There is no place for any type of violence in our city.”
Anyone with information related to this individual or incident can contact Detective Tavera, or Detective Sergeant Gradle or the Watch Commander on 310-458-8427, which is a 24-hour number. The case number is 24ARCF00147 and the booking reference is 6739643.
scott.snowden@smdp.com