SANTA MONICA, California – A 27-year-old homeless woman is facing a murder charge and several other counts following a fatal shooting in Santa Monica. Kayla Delise Mackie is accused of fatally shooting a man inside a parked car in the Los Angeles area. Along with the murder charge, she is also faced with charges of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and second-degree robbery.
Mackie pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday and is expected to return to court in March for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for her to stand trial. The victim, 46-year-old William Edwards III, was a music producer who worked with various rap and hip-hop artists and owned a recording studio in Hollywood. The shooting occurred on the evening of January 25, and Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Mackie was arrested the next day in West Los Angeles and is currently being held on a $2 million bail. In addition to the fatal shooting, Santa Monica police say Mackie is also implicated in other crimes in Los Angeles, including an armed robbery and an attempted homicide. The specific details of these additional allegations were not immediately available.
Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock expressed shock and condolences for the victim’s family and friends, stating, “While nothing can take away the pain this incident has brought to our community, I am proud of the outstanding police work our officers showed to quickly apprehend the suspect and ensure she is brought to justice.” Friends of the victim described him as a dedicated music producer who collaborated with well-known artists and was the father of two young boys.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting has been urged to contact SMPD Detective Ismael Tavera or Detective Sgt. Ryan Gradle at the provided email addresses and phone numbers. Mackie is scheduled to appear in court again in March, and the investigation into the additional alleged crimes is ongoing.