Homicide Arrest Update
January 30, 2024 4:40 PM
Santa Monica, CA – On January 25th at approximately 10:25 AM, Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a call of Shots Fired in the 2600 block of 29th Street in Santa Monica. Officers located the victim of the shooting seated in his parked vehicle. The victim, identified as William Edwards III, a 46-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was transported to a local hospital in grave condition and died at the hospital. The motive for the crime is still being investigated.
SMPD located suspect Kayla Delise 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. On January 30, 2024, the District Attorney filed a murder charge (187(a) PC) for the Santa Monica homicide as well as additional charges related to the Los Angeles incidents.
Santa Monica Chief Ramon Batista commended the extraordinary work by all members of the police department who assisted in getting this individual in custody and charged. Chief Batista stated:
“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.”
Additionally, Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock 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.”
Thank you again to the public for assistance in this investigation. We encourage anyone with information related to this individual or incident to contact Detective Tavera at Ismael.Tavera@santamonica.gov, Detective Sergeant Gradle at Ryan.Gradle@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.
Media Contact
Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant
Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov