Man charged with murder for crash that killed LAPD sergeant, other driver on 405 Freeway

LOS ANGELES () — Murder charges have been filed against a 36-year-old man accused of striking and killing a Los Angeles police sergeant and another man on the 405 Freeway near Bel Air last summer, prosecutors announced Monday.

The district attorney’s office said the suspect was allegedly driving at speeds of more than 100 mph at the time of the collision.

Mario Joseph Bickham of Hawthorne has been charged with two felony counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of 53-year-old LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and 34-year-old Jesús Garcia. Bickham was arrested at his home Monday.

“The aggressiveness of this driving has led to a situation for an absolutely callous disregard for life,” L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press conference.

The crash occurred June 23, 2025, after Deng stopped to assist Garcia, who had been struck in an earlier hit-and-run crash on the southbound 405 Freeway near the Getty Center, according to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators said Deng activated his emergency lights to warn approaching motorists of the danger. When he stepped out of his patrol car, prosecutors said Bickham allegedly crashed into the vehicles, killing both men.

California Highway Patrol Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris said Bickham was allegedly driving more than 112 mph when the crash occurred.

“Despite breaking seconds before impact, the speed was simply too great to avoid crashing into Sgt. Deng’s patrol vehicle, disabled truck and both victims,” Margaris said.

Prosecutors said Bickham has a history of excessive speeding. According to the district attorney’s office, he was cited a month before the fatal crash for driving 105 mph but did not appear in court.

If convicted as charged, Bickham faces up to 15 years to life in state prison for each victim, according to the DA’s office.

According to McDonnell, Deng was promoted to sergeant in 2023 and was assigned to the department’s West Los Angeles Division. Deng had 26 1/2 years on the LAPD, 17 of which he served in the LAPD Mental Evaluation Unit.

“Today is about more than an arrest. It’s about remembering Sgt. Shiou Deng. For more than 26 years, Sgt. Deng served the people of Los Angeles with honor, integrity and compassion,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said.

City News Service contributed to this report.