On January 25, 2024, at about 10:25 a.m., officers in Santa Monica found 46-year-old Los Angeles music producer William James ’BJ’ Edwards III seated in his parked vehicle in the 2600 block of 29th Street with critical gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Witnesses described a female suspect fleeing the scene.

Detectives identified and arrested 27-year-old Kayla Denise Mackey in West Los Angeles the next morning. She was connected to other Los Angeles incidents, including an armed robbery and an attempted homicide. On January 30, 2024, the District Attorney filed a murder charge against Mackey; the motive for Edwards’ shooting remains under investigation.

Edwards was known in the music industry for collaborations with artists such as Travis Scott and Lil Cobaine and is survived by two young sons. The Santa Monica Police Department is asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Does anyone have information about Edwards’ movements that morning or witnessed activity in the 2600 block of 29th Street?