Unhoused woman charged in music producer's death in Santa Monica

Unhoused woman charged in shooting death of music producer in Santa Monica

Staff Writer

Feb. 2, 2024 1:27 PM PT

An unhoused woman who was arrested last week after allegedly shooting a music producer in Santa Monica has been charged with murder.

Prosecutors said 27-year-old Kayla Delise Mackie was charged Tuesday in the shooting death, along with other crimes.

On the morning of Jan. 25, officers responded to a report of shots fired on 29th Street near Ocean Park Boulevard. At the scene, they “located the victim of the shooting seated in his parked vehicle,” according to a statement by the city of Santa Monica.

The victim, William James Edwards III, was 46. His listed address was in Venice and websites such as IMDb and LinkedIn showed he worked with artists including Travis Scott and Lil Cobaine. He is also listed as producer for a 2018 movie called “Haunting on Fraternity Row,” along with at least two short films.

On his Instagram account, rapper Lil Cobaine wrote a tribute to Edwards, saying, “To say we were friends would put a damper on the brotherhood we’ve built and the moments and memories we’ve accumulated over the 9 years that we’ve been FAMILY. you meant the world to me.”

A GoFundMe page for his two sons said that Edwards, who went by BJ, was “a talented man that excelled at everything he did.”

The music producer would be missed by many in the entertainment industry, the page said.

Police located the suspect, Mackie, in West L.A. the morning after the shooting. They were tipped off by witnesses who said they saw Mackie leave the scene, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The police said Mackie was “currently experiencing homelessness.”

Mackie was also “responsible for additional crimes in Los Angeles, including an armed robbery and an attempted homicide,” the city statement alleged.