LOS ANGELES, CA – A 27-year-old homeless woman is facing a murder charge and other counts for alleged crimes in the Los Angeles area, including a fatal shooting in Santa Monica. Kayla Delise Mackie was charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, and robbery, with multiple allegations of firearm use. She pleaded not guilty and is due back in court in March for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for her to stand trial.
The charges stem from the fatal shooting of 46-year-old William Edwards III, a music producer from Los Angeles, who was shot while sitting in his parked car in Santa Monica. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.
Mackie was arrested in West Los Angeles the day after the shooting and is currently in jail with a bail set at $2 million. Santa Monica police revealed that she is also linked to other crimes in Los Angeles, including armed robbery and attempted homicide, but details on these additional allegations were not immediately available.
Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock expressed shock at the senseless killing and offered condolences to the victim’s family and friends. He commended the police for their swift apprehension of the suspect and emphasized the city’s intolerance for any form of violence, particularly gun violence.
Friends of Edwards described him as a music producer who had collaborated with well-known artists and was a father of two young boys. Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting was urged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department. A date for Mackie’s trial is set to be determined in March.