LONG BEACH, CA — Two people who exhibited bravery in the face of danger have been presented with Courage Awards by LA County DA Nathan Hochman at the Rotary Club of Long Beach.
On March 18, Maxxy Lopez, 24 and Daniel Edwards, 44, were each honored for their bravery, which helped bring criminals to justice.
Edwards witnessed a deadly mobile home arson and helped authorities track down the suspect in December, 2022. After witnessing a man holding a torch to the mobile home and igniting the curtains, Daniel shouted, called 911 and chased the man, later identified as Danny Reece, through dark alleys, updating police on his location.
Edwards then waited for officers and later identified Reece as the arsonist.
“Daniel’s quick action and courage helped secure Reece’s conviction for voluntary manslaughter and his 11-year state prison sentence late last year,” the DA’s office said.
Lopez was honored after she confirmed to police that, as a child, she witnessed her mother and her mother’s oldest son strangle her father to death.
On Father’s Day 2022, then 20-year-old Maxxy told authorities what she witnessed and cooperated with the investigation, testifying at both the preliminary hearing and trial.
“Her bravery enabled (her father’s) brother and parents to finally have closure about the death … and secured the convictions for special circumstance murder,” the DA’s office said.
Both defendants received life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“These honorees didn’t just witness horrific acts — they chose to selflessly act when it mattered most,” Hochman said. “They stepped forward despite fear, despite pressure, and because of that, justice was possible.”