Reckless Rampage, Then a Fundraiser?

When a driver charged with killing two people holds a fundraiser for himself, something feels broken.

Story Snapshot

Police charged Mario Bickham with two counts of second-degree murder.^[2]
One victim was a Los Angeles Police Department sergeant; the other worked at Whole Foods.^[2]
Reports say the driver sped and even drove on a sidewalk before the crash.^[1]
The driver reportedly launched a fundraiser for himself after the deaths.^[2]

Police Charges And What They Mean

Los Angeles police arrested driver Mario Bickham, age 36, and prosecutors filed two counts of second-degree murder. The named victims are Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Shiou Deng and grocery worker Jesus Melendez-Ortiz. Second-degree murder here signals alleged extreme recklessness without preplanning. That charge can bring decades in prison if a jury agrees with the facts and legal theory. The charging details and identities of the victims were reported by a major outlet that cited police information.^[2]

Police and media accounts say the crash followed dangerous driving. A social media post from a community gathering claimed the driver reached high speeds and even went onto a sidewalk before the fatal collision. The available records do not list a specific miles-per-hour figure. That gap matters for court, because speed data often comes from vehicle modules or reconstruction reports. Without that, the picture still points to obvious risk but leaves exact numbers unclear based on what is public now.^[1]

The Fundraiser Detail And Public Reaction

After the deaths, the driver reportedly set up a fundraiser for himself. That move sparked outrage online and in the community, where family and fellow delivery drivers gathered to mourn one victim’s life. Prosecutors could argue the fundraiser shows indifference. Defense lawyers might say it proves nothing about guilt. The report of the fundraiser comes through media, not a posted campaign record in this research set, so the claim rests on that outlet’s sourcing at this stage.^[1]^[2]

Public anger grows fast when innocent people die on city streets. Families ask why a driver kept going. Others ask why police engaged or continued a chase if one occurred. Those two views now collide often in American cities. Community grief is real, and so is the need for process. Courts must weigh evidence, not headlines. That balance can feel cold to victims, but it protects everyone when facts are contested or incomplete in early reports.

Why Prosecutors Use Murder Charges In Pursuit Crashes

Prosecutors nationwide have turned to second-degree murder in the most reckless fleeing cases. They argue that extreme speeding in crowded areas shows a conscious disregard for life. This trend tracks with growing data on deadly pursuits. A cross-sectional medical journal study found 4,415 pursuit fatalities in the United States from 2017 to 2021, with an increasing trend during those years. Policy groups also urge tighter chase rules, limiting pursuits to violent suspects who pose an imminent threat.^[11]^[13]

These numbers cut through politics. People across the spectrum want safe streets and fair policing. Conservatives see chaos and weak accountability for reckless actors. Liberals see policy failures that put bystanders at risk. Both sides worry the system protects insiders and fails the public. When the system only reacts after people die, trust erodes. Strong, clear rules and consistent charging standards help. So do transparent releases of video, data, and pursuit policies when tragedies happen.

What We Still Do Not Know

Key facts remain missing in the publicly available materials here. The research does not include an official collision reconstruction, on-scene measurements, or black box data confirming speed. It does not include dash camera or body camera video that could show sidewalk driving or decision points. It also does not include a primary source for the fundraiser, such as a campaign page or platform statement. Those documents would firm up what happened and how courts should judge intent.^[1]^[2]^[11]^[13]

For readers trying to make sense of this, keep two truths in view. First, two people are dead, and the law allows harsh penalties when someone drives with extreme disregard for others. Second, the state must prove each element, and media frames can outrun facts. Demand the evidence: speed data, videos, pursuit policy logs, and any fundraiser records. That is how communities resist spin, hold the reckless to account, and also force government to follow its own rules.