A 42-year-old woman has been charged with helping a driver evade arrest after he allegedly killed two people and critically injured two others in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Monica last month, authorities announced.
Marshonda Lajune Whitaker was arrested Nov. 6 in Santa Monica, days after co-defendant Alex Kristopher Kirksey was arrested in Chicago and extradited to face charges in the Oct. 24 crash that killed Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, both 61.
Whitaker has been charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact. The criminal complaint alleges that Whitaker, knowing Kirksey had committed gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run, aided him in avoiding arrest.
She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and bail was set at $25,000. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison.
Kirksey, 38, was charged Oct. 30 with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, two felony counts of hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury, and one felony count of reckless driving on a highway causing injury. Prosecutors allege he personally inflicted great bodily injury and has a prior serious felony conviction.
Authorities say Kirksey was driving the wrong way on Wilshire Boulevard near Euclid Avenue when he ran a red light, struck a curb and hit Cohen and Lipshy as they were exiting a sushi restaurant in the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard. The vehicle continued down the sidewalk and struck two other pedestrians, who were transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Kirksey allegedly fled on foot and left California. After an extensive investigation, Santa Monica Police Department detectives tracked him to Chicago, where he was arrested with assistance from Chicago police.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman and Santa Monica Interim Police Chief Darrick Jacob announced the arrests earlier this week.
"Criminals and those who help them try to escape and evade the law will be held fully accountable for their illicit actions," Hochman said. "I extend my deepest sympathy to the families of Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, beloved members of the Santa Monica community, whose lives were tragically lost, and to the two victims who were critically injured simply walking on the sidewalk."
Kirksey pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Nov. 6. His bail was set at $1 million. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 26 years in state prison.
A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for both defendants Dec. 3 in Department 31 of the Airport Courthouse.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katherine Burgermyer of the Airport Branch Office. It remains under investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Santa Monica Police Department Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201 ext. 5311, or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.