An Evening Stolen: Violence on the Sidewalk

The Santa Monica community is mourning the dual and devastating loss of Maura Cohen, 61, and Brad Lipshy, 61, two beloved local figures whose lives were violently and senselessly extinguished in a catastrophic hit-and-run. Maura and Brad, the CEO of a Santa Monica event planning firm, were tragically struck and killed as they exited a local sushi restaurant. The scene of the horror was the sidewalk on Wilshire Boulevard, a place meant for safety, not sudden death. The vehicle, traveling the wrong way down the street, suddenly veered onto the pavement, crushing the lives of the two friends and injuring two others. This was not an accident; it was an act of extreme, criminal negligence that transformed a quiet Friday night dinner into a homicide scene, leaving a permanent scar on the heart of the city.

The Ultimate Cowardice: A Cross-Country Flight

The initial shock of the tragedy was compounded by the absolute cowardice of the driver. Instead of rendering aid or facing responsibility, the suspect, later identified as Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey, 38, abandoned his rental car and fled the scene on foot, leaving the victims in the wreckage. In the days following, Kirksey took deliberate steps to avoid detection, including fleeing the state entirely. The knowledge that the person responsible for such destruction was actively attempting to escape justice added immense frustration to the families’ unbearable grief. However, thanks to the tireless, professional work of the Santa Monica Police Department and law enforcement partners, the long arm of justice proved relentless. Kirksey was tracked all the way to a transit center in Chicago, where he was arrested as he allegedly attempted to flee further.

Justice Begins: Remembering Maura and Brad

Brad Lipshy, a loving father of four and a respected entrepreneur, was remembered as a man of immense positivity and a mentor who treated his employees like family. Maura Cohen was equally cherished by her loved ones. Both were vibrant individuals at the peak of their professional and personal lives. While the arrest of Alex Kirksey on felony charges, including two counts of vehicular manslaughter, marks a crucial step toward accountability, it cannot erase the pain. The enduring legacy of Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy will be one of warmth, leadership, and friendship. May the pursuit of justice bring a necessary measure of closure and ensure that their names are forever synonymous with a call for zero tolerance for reckless driving and hit-and-run crimes.