A 40-year-old man was charged this week with vehicular manslaughter for, authorities say, running over and killing a 19-year-old woman in the parking lot of a strip mall in Long Beach last year.
Desean Edwards of Long Beach was arrested on Tuesday, May 5, less than two months after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence against him, court records show.
On Nov. 2, 2025, Grace Edwards — no relation to the suspect — was walking in a parking lot at Bellflower Boulevard and Stearns Street when she was struck by Desean Edwards’ Lexus sedan as he was leaving a parking stall, police said.
The woman was walking with her mother, according to police and a GoFundMe fundraiser started to help the family with funeral costs.
Investigators believed distracted driving was a contributing factor in the collision, police said. Desean Edwards remained at the scene after the crash, cooperated with investigators and was not arrested at that time.
“Grace was a vibrant and carefree 19-year-old,” said Haley and Scott Sousa, who organized the fundraiser. “She touched the lives of so many, including young families as she cared for many children at her church and in her community.”
Days before the collision, Grace Edwards talked with her parents about becoming an organ donor while filling out an application to renew her driver’s license, they wrote.
“When it was clear she would not survive her injuries, they knew her wishes were to give life to others by donating her organs,” the Sousas said on the web page. “We are comforted by the fact that her legacy is going to live on and bring life to others.”
Grace Edwards’ heart was donated to an 8-year-old, they said.
Desean Edwards pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court records. He was released from jail after posting $30,000 bail, according to inmate and court records.