A Los Angeles man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with a fiery crash that killed an off-duty LAPD sergeant and a civilian on the 405 Freeway. Mario Bickham, 36, was also charged with murder for the deaths of LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and Jesus Garcia, 34, in the collision that occurred on June 23, 2025.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges Monday, stating that Bickham was driving his Nissan sedan at speeds exceeding 112 miles per hour when he struck Sgt. Deng, who had exited his patrol car to assist Garcia. Garcia, a Whole Foods worker, had stopped his vehicle near the Getty Center after it was struck by another car.
Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene, and Deng, a 26-year veteran of the LAPD, died at a local hospital. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell described the incident as a "preventable crash caused by a conscious disregard of the safety of others."
According to authorities, Bickham, who is employed by the Department of Homeland Security, had a history of reckless driving. Hochman noted that Bickham had been cited multiple times for speeding over the past 15 years, including two instances of exceeding 100 miles per hour. He also failed to appear in court for a speeding citation issued the month before the fatal crash, as well as for previous citations.
Despite sustaining leg injuries in the crash, Bickham reportedly initiated an online fundraiser titled "Support Mario's Road to Recovery." The GoFundMe, organized by a friend with Bickham listed as a co-organizer, aimed to raise $5,000 for hospital bills and a new vehicle. The campaign has raised $1,820 from 27 donations to date.
Hochman emphasized that emergency lights on Sgt. Deng's patrol car were illuminated at the time of the crash, and many other drivers heeded the lights and avoided the accident. He warned that excessive speeding, particularly over 100 mph, can lead to murder charges, citing the conviction of socialite Rebecca Grossman, who is serving a prison sentence for a similar offense.
Prosecutors intend to seek that Bickham be held without bail at his upcoming arraignment. "If you want to engage in fast speeds, especially speeds over 100 miles an hour, that is a fast track to a murder charge," Hochman stated. "So, don’t do it."