A 36-year-old man, Mario Joseph Bickham, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Los Angeles police sergeant Shiou Deng and driver Jesús Garcia on June 23, 2025. According to prosecutors, Bickham was driving at speeds over 100 mph when he struck and killed both men on the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway near Getty Center Drive.
Bickham's arrest comes more than a year after the deadly incident, in which LAPD Sgt. Deng, a 26-year veteran of the department, died from his injuries at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Driver Jesús Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors allege that Bickham had a history of excessive speeding, with multiple citations over the past 15 years, including one just a month before the fatal crash in which he was cited for driving over 105 mph and failed to appear in court.
Bickham is expected to be arraigned in the coming days, with prosecutors seeking to have him held without bail or on bail set at least $4 million. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with authorities not releasing details about how Bickham was arrested.
Background: Sgt. Shiou Deng was a dedicated officer who spent 17 years assigned to the department's mental evaluation unit and was described by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell as "a true hero" who cared for the most vulnerable in society. Driver Jesús Garcia, 34, was on his way home from work when he was struck and killed.
Note: Sources confirm that Bickham has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, but do not specify whether this is a change from earlier charges or if there are any discrepancies between the sources' accounts.