A speeding driver who held a shameless online fundraiser for himself after killing a Los Angeles cop and a Whole Foods worker in a fiery highway wreck has been hit with murder charges over the horrific crash.
Mario Bickham, 36, of Los Angeles was charged with two counts of second-degree murder Monday for the killing of LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng and Jesus Garcia, 34, in the June 23, 2025 collision on the busy 405 Freeway.
The charges were announced by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Bickham was driving his Nissan sedan at more than 112 miles per hour when he slammed into Deng, who had just exited his cruiser to help Garcia, a Whole Foods worker who had finished his shift and was stopped near the Getty Center.
Garcia, whose vehicle had just been struck by another car before the fatal 2 a.m. collision, was pronounced dead at the scene. Deng, 53, a 26-year LAPD veteran, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital soon after.
“This was an absolute tragedy, because it was a preventable crash caused by a conscious disregard of the safety of others,” said McDonnell.
Bickham, who works at the Department of Homeland Security according to his Facebook profile, often posted photos of his muscles and tattoos on social media and displayed a fondness for nightlife and Egyptian iconography.
He also had a taste for reckless driving at dangerous speeds, said Hochman.
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.”
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