Los Angeles County father charged with murder for leaving child in car

Authorities announced Thursday morning that a father has been charged with murdering his child, who was found dead after being left in a car in View Park-Windsor Hills on Tuesday.

The child’s father, identified as Edwin Johnson of View Park, was initially arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. However, LASD’s Thursday update said investigators instead charged Johnson with murdering his child, whose identity was not immediately provided.

LASD said it happened on Tuesday afternoon, and that deputies from the Marina Del Rey Station were sent to the 3800 block of Chanson Drive shortly after 3 p.m. on a report of a child not breathing.

“The call involved a child who was found unresponsive in a vehicle,” the department said in its original statement. Paramedics soon arrived and pronounced the child dead at the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities did not provide information on any events leading up to the suspected murder.

Johnson’s bail was set at $2 million, and his arraignment was scheduled for Sept. 12 at LAX Superior Court.

Anyone with further information was asked to contact the Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to the lacrimestoppers.org website.

Nidia Becerra and Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report.