BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, July 21, the Beverly Hills Police Department announced that it is encouraging drivers to follow the speed limit and “slow the fast down” for the month of July. The BHPD will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers who are speeding or driving too fast for conditions.

• Plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
• Follow posted speed limits, especially in school and work zones.
• Drive at a speed that is safe speed for the conditions around you. Adjust your speed for changing weather, traffic, and road conditions.
• Avoid aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating or weaving through traffic.

By Danny Jones

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—Singer David A. Burke, known by the stage name D4vd, had his lawyer file a motion seeking permission to appear in court without handcuffs or other restraints. His lawyer, Blair Berk, argued his client never tried to escape, has never been disruptive, and has made five court appearances, all without incident. She cited that record to argue that restraints should be kept to a minimum unless there is a specific need.

Judge Charlaine Olmedo of the Los Angeles Superior Court has not yet ruled on the motion. The hearing is set to begin Tuesday, July 21, and is expected to run for about 3 to 7 days. It will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send Burke to trial in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

D4vd is eligible to receive both life in prison and the death penalty for his alleged involvement in the murder of Rivas-Hernandez. He is facing first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14, and mutilating a body.

The special circumstances include lying in wait for the victim, committing the crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness in an investigation.

These circumstances increase the severity of the case, which prompted Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to consider pursuing the death penalty.

Investigators believe the scene of the crime was D4VD’s home in Hollywood Hills. They argued that Burke stabbed Hernandez after she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and jeopardize his music career.

Hernandez’s body was found mutilated in the front trunk of a Tesla in September 2025. Charges were filed against the singer on April 20, 2026. The preliminary hearing on Tuesday will determine whether there’s enough evidence to hold Burke to answer on the charges.

By Milan Manesh

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, July 20, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department noted it needs the public’s help to locate a missing person.

Warren Raymond McKay, 71. is a Caucasian male who was last seen on July 20 at approximately 8:04 a.m., on the 1100 block of Poinsettia Drive, in West Hollywood.

McKay is 5 feet and 5 inches tall, he weighs 175 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt with white numbers, “2022,” plaid and white pajama pants with a silver wedding band on his left ring finger.

He suffers from a neurocognitive disorder and is medication dependent. He has not communicated with his family and they are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone with details about McKay’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (323) 890-5500.

To provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on Monday, July 20 that a small brush fire erupted
at Mulholland Highway and Old Topanga Canyon Road at about 3 a.m. Responding firefighters quickly extinguished the fire at 1/4 acre within minutes. If the fire expanded, the city would follow up with emergency alerts and posts on social media and nextdoor.

Small fires are a powerful reminder for Malibu residents and businesses to get started on their emergency plan including evacuation routes and reunification locations, medications, first aid, essential documents, backup batteries for devices.

Sign up for emergency alerts from the city of Malibu at www.MalibuCity.org/news (scroll to alert center), and from LA County at https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications.

Get the City’s Fire Preparedness Quick Guide, schedule your FREE home wildfire assessment from Malibu’s Fire Safety Liaisons, and get more preparedness info at https://malibucity.org/firesafety.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Monday, July 20, the city of Santa Monica announced that Appian Way, the roadway that provides access to the south side of the Pier parking lot, will be closed to all vehicles from Monday, July 27, through Monday, August 3.

Part of the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project, the temporary road closure is necessary to allow crews to safely demolish a portion of the existing Pier Bridge over the roadway. The closure will be contained to the area just beneath the existing bridge, north of Seaside Terrace.

The Santa Monica Pier is expected to remain open throughout the closure, including all restaurants, shops, attractions, businesses and amenities.

Vehicle access to Parking Lot 1 North will remain available from Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) throughout the closure. Visitors can use one of the following nearby public parking facilities during the closure:

-Beach Lot 4 South
-Beach Lot 3 North
-Parking Structure 8

Clearly marked parking, pedestrian routes and wayfinding signage will guide visitors to the Pier. Pedestrian access to the Pier and Ocean Front Walk will remain available throughout construction.

Public transit and rideshare services are available to reach the Pier during the closure. Several local bus routes and the Metro E Line provide convenient access to downtown Santa Monica, with the Pier just a short walk away. Designated rideshare pick-up and drop-off locations near the Pier will remain accessible throughout the closure.

Visitors should plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and follow posted detour, parking and pedestrian signage while traveling to and from the Pier during the temporary closure.

The Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project will replace the nearly 90-year-old bridge that serves as the primary vehicle access to the Pier. The project will improve safety, accessibility and the long-term reliability of this important connection while maintaining access to the Pier throughout construction whenever possible.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—An unidentified male driver struck a parked car, lost control, and flipped over onto its roof in the middle of the road last Saturday, July 18, around 9 p.m., WeHo Times first reported.

The crash shut down the westbound lane on Santa Monica Boulevard near La Jolla Avenue in West Hollywood. First responders arrived quickly and pulled the driver from the overturned vehicle.

Upon arrival, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department checked the driver for signs of impairment. Following the examination, law enforcement report showed no indications of being intoxicated.

The response was classified as a Code 3, meaning an emergency response using lights and sirens reserved for situations involving immediate danger to life or public safety. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

By Milan Manesh

MALIBU—On Monday, July 20, at 10:06 a.m., the city of Malibu issued an alert on its website warning beachgoers of dangerous beach conditions starting Monday and running through Tuesday, July 21, until 11 p.m.

Malibu is following a warning reported by the National Weather Service at 1:49 a.m. on July 20; that warning states that the Malibu Coast will experience high surf with waves reaching up to 4 feet and 7 feet high, increasing the frequency of strong rip currents.

According to the Los Angeles County Lifeguards’ Facebook, the Southern California coastline is expected to have a series of swells due to the impact of Tropical Storm Elida. Dangerous beach conditions are expected to be highest in south-facing beaches.

The city advises beachgoers and swimmers who plan to escape the heat and head to the beach to stay near occupied lifeguard towers and to stay away from rocks and jetties, as dangerous beach conditions increase the risk of ocean drownings.

By Megan Hanson

SANTA MONICA/SHERMAN OAKS—A road rage incident involving a firearm escalated into a roughly 45-minute, multi-agency pursuit with speeds reaching over 100 mph. On July 3, around 8:25 p.m., an adult male driving a black Range Rover fired a gunshot at another driver during a road rage confrontation near Cloverfield Boulevard and Broadway in Santa Monica.

The bullet did not strike the victim but damaged the victim’s vehicle. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived later in the night.

Investigators with the Santa Monica Police Department tracked him down on Tuesday, July 21, around 7 a.m., with Lt. Lewis Gilmour of the SMPD confirming that officers located him in the San Fernando Valley and attempted to arrest him.

The suspect did not pull over, but instead ran from law enforcement, triggering a high-speed chase. The California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, which passed through Sherman Oaks on the southbound 405 Freeway before continuing through Pacoima, Koreatown, and into the San Gabriel Valley, where it ended following a PIT maneuver by CHP.

The suspect was taken into custody at approximately 8 a.m. False reports have been circling online and on social media linking the suspect to Monday’s fatal shooting near the Santa Monica Pier. The SMPD made clear via an official statement and tweet that read:

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Additional information, including any arrest or charging information, will be released when appropriate.

This suspect and incident are unrelated to the July 20, 2026 homicide investigation at Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot 1 North.”

By Milan Manesh

WOODLAND HILLS—A 46-year-old man, wanted on felony domestic violence charges, barricaded himself inside a Woodland Hills townhome on Sunday, July 19. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department visited the suspect’s residence, located at 5720 N. Owensmouth Ave., to do a domestic violence follow-up after a victim reported abuse at LAPD’s Topanga Station around 3:15 p.m.

The suspect refused to comply or exit the townhome. Law enforcement was aware the suspect had several firearms registered to his name. Officers believe it was possible he was armed resulting in an hours-long standoff, around 8 hours, which later progressed into a structure fire from inside the home.

SWAT responded to the scene around 6 p.m., and the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived around 6:40 p.m. The fire broke out around 11:05 p.m., spreading to neighboring units and prompting an evacuation of nearby homes.

The suspect was found dead inside the townhome after it became engulfed in flames, prompting an arson investigation. The suspect’s name has not been released to the public. The suspect’s wife, the domestic violence victim who filed the report, did sustain injuries and her condition is unknown.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department is searching for the suspect responsible for a fatal shooting that transpired on the Santa Monica Pier on Monday, July 20.

The shooting transpired after midnight at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, Parking Lot 1 North at 12:32 a.m. where the victim was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim has not been disclosed to the public.

“The preliminary investigation indicates that a physical altercation occurred between two groups prior to the shooting. The circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation,” Lt. Lewis Gilmour of the SMPD told Canyon News.

Authorities have not released any details on the suspect or a motive for the shooting. The city of Santa Monica was host to several public celebrations and watch parties for the 2026 World Cup recently that concluded on July 19.