A Long Beach driver is now facing criminal charges months after authorities say his distracted driving killed a 19-year-old woman as she walked through a strip mall parking lot with her mother.

Desean Edwards, 40, was charged this week with felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the Nov. 2, 2025, death of Grace Edwards (no relation), who died in a horrifying crash that unfolded in front of the teen’s mom, according to authorities and court records.

The 40-year-old was arrested Tuesday, May 5, less than two months after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against him.
Grace Edwards smiling on a beach.A Long Beach driver is now facing criminal charges after his distracted driving killed 19-year-old Grace Edwards.GoFundMe
Grace was walking through the parking lot near Bellflower Boulevard and Stearns Street when police say Edwards struck her with his Lexus sedan while backing out of a parking spot.

Investigators said distracted driving was believed to be a contributing factor.

Edwards stayed at the scene, cooperated with investigators, and was not initially arrested.

“Grace was a vibrant and carefree 19-year-old,” wrote Haley and Scott Sousa, who organized the family’s GoFundMe fundraiser. “She touched the lives of so many, including young families, as she cared for many children at her church and in her community.”

In an emotional twist, Grace had spoken with her parents just days before the fatal collision about becoming an organ donor while renewing her driver’s license.

The exterior of a Five Below store with a large blue sign reading "five BEL°W hot stuff. cool prices."Grace Edwards was walking through the Long Beach strip mall parking lot when police say Desean Edwards struck her.Red Lemon – stock.adobe.com
“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. “We are comforted by the fact that her legacy is going to live on and bring life to others.”

Her heart was ultimately donated to an 8-year-old child, according to the fundraiser.

Desean Edwards pleaded not guilty and was released after posting $75,000 bail, court and inmate records show.

If convicted, he could face up to six years in state prison.