SANTA MONICA, Calif. – A homeless woman has been apprehended and identified as the suspect in a deadly shooting that occurred in Santa Monica on Thursday. The woman, 27-year-old Kayla Denise Mackey, was arrested on Friday morning in West Los Angeles. She has been linked to the killing of 46-year-old Edward Williams III, a Los Angeles man who was shot in his vehicle on the 2600 block of 29th Street at around 10:30 a.m. Williams was severely injured and later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital that afternoon.
A video from Sky5 showed the scene of the shooting, and authorities believe there may have been an argument preceding the incident. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots, and the suspect fled the area. Despite a heavy police presence, the woman managed to evade capture overnight.
Thanks to descriptions provided by witnesses, the Santa Monica Police Department was able to identify Mackey as the suspect and locate her. However, the motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the victim’s funeral expenses. Anyone with information related to the shooting is encouraged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department. Detective George Burciaga and Detective Sergeant Ryan Gradle are leading the investigation and can be reached via email. Additionally, phone calls can be directed to the Police Department watch commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.