A driver accused of speeding before a deadly, fiery crash on a Los Angeles freeway — and later launching an online fundraiser for himself — has now been charged with murder in the deaths of an LAPD officer and a Whole Foods employee.
Mario Bickham, 36, of Los Angeles, was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the June 23, 2025, collision on the heavily traveled 405 Freeway that killed LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and 34-year-old Jesus Garcia.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Bickham was behind the wheel of a Nissan sedan traveling at more than 112 mph when he crashed into Deng, who had just stepped out of his patrol vehicle to assist Garcia, a Whole Foods worker who had finished his shift and was stopped near the Getty Center.
Garcia’s vehicle had been hit by another car shortly before the fatal 2 a.m. crash. He was declared dead at the scene, while Deng, 53, a 26-year veteran of the LAPD, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon afterward.
“This was an absolute tragedy, because it was a preventable crash caused by a conscious disregard of the safety of others,” McDonnell said.
Bickham, whose Facebook profile lists him as an employee of the Department of Homeland Security, frequently shared social media images highlighting his physique and tattoos, along with posts reflecting an interest in nightlife and Egyptian-themed imagery.
Hochman said Bickham also had a history of dangerous, high-speed driving.
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Bickham had been routinely busted for speeding over the past 15 years and had been cited twice for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, the DA said, including once in the month before the crash when he was ticketed for going over 105 miles per hour.
Bickham failed to appear in court for that citation, said Hochman, and had failed to appear in court previously for a number of his prior speeding citations.
Bickham’s legs were injured in the crash and he was taken to a hospital for treatment. From his bed, he snapped a picture of his bandaged limbs and posted the image to an online fundraiser with the aim of raising $5,000 to cover his hospital bills and pay for a new car.
Entitled “Support Mario’s Road to Recovery,” and organized by a friend with Bickham listed as a co-organizer, the GoFundMe said Bickham would face months of recovery and financial strain due to his totaled car.
“Despite these challenges, Mario’s spirits remain incredibly high,” states the online crowdsourcing effort, which after a year has raised $1,820 from 27 donations and remains active.
Hochman said the emergency lights on Deng’s cruiser were illuminated when Bickham slammed into Deng and Garcia, killing both. Dozens of other motorists paid heed to the flashing lights and avoided the accident near the freeway median, he said.
Officers took Bickham into custody Monday morning while Bickham was on the way to his vehicle, Hochman said. Prosecutors will seek to have Bickham held without bail at his upcoming arraignment, the DA said.
Hochman said his office on several occasions has brought murder charges against speeding drivers, citing the 2024 conviction of socialite Rebecca Grossman, who was speeding when she killed two boys and is serving a prison sentence of 15 years to life.
“If you want to engage in fast speeds, especially speeds over 100 miles an hour, that is a fast track to a murder charge,” said Hochman. “So, don’t do it.”
