By Lookout Staff
November 10, 2025 -- A 42-year-old woman has been charged with aiding the driver who fled the State after allegedly killing two pedestrians and seriously injuring two others in a fatal hit-and-run in Santa Monica last month.
Marshonda Lajune Whitaker was charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact and if convicted faces a maximum sentence of three years in State prison.
The complaint fild by the LA County District Attorney alleges that Whitaker, with knowledge that Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey, 38, committed gross vehicular manslaughter and hit and run, aided the suspect in avoiding arrest.
Whitaker was arrested in Santa Monica Thursday and pleaded not guilty during her arraignment Friday. Bail was set at $25,000.
Her arrest comes six days after Kirksey was arrested in Chicago on October 30 in connection with the fatal crash that took place October 24 on the 1400 block of Wilshire Boulevard, according to police.
Kirksey was extradited from Illinois after Santa Monica police detectives, with the assistance of the Chicago Police Department, arrested the suspect "at or near a transit center as he appeared to be attempting to flee further," police officials said.
Kirksey was charged on October 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.
It is also alleged that he "personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victims and had a prior serious felony conviction," the DA's office said.
Kirksey -- who "does not have a stable home address" -- was identified as the suspect after extensive investigative work by SMPD detectives, said Lt. Lewis Gilmour, the Police Department spokesman.
Evidence gathered found that Whitaker rented the car Kirksey was driving through an online platform, police officials said.
She "traveled to the scene after the collision, sought information about what occurred, and later assisted the suspect in leaving the state," officials said.
The two victims have been identified as Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, both 61, who were exiting the restaurant Sushi King, where they had been dining together, when they were killed.
Two other victims of the crash -- a couple both in their thirties -- were transported with injuries to a local hospital.
On Thursday, Kirksey pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Bail was set at $1 million. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 26 years in state prison.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for both defendants on December 3 in Department 31 of the Airport Courthouse.
The Santa Monica Police Department’s investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to the case should contact Traffic Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201 ext. 5311 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at (310) 458-8427.