Northridge DUI crash: Driver charged with murder in deaths of off-duty LAPD officer, best friend

Cop's mom reacts to son getting killed by DUI driver

Off-duty LAPD officer Darrell Cunningham was among the two people hit and killed by an alleged DUI driver.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Authorities charged 20-year-old Brian David Olivarez with two counts of murder in the Northridge crash that killed an off-duty LAPD officer and his passenger, they announced Wednesday.

The two were killed in a crash in Northridge in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 4., allegedly triggered by a drunk driver in a BMW who allegedly ran a red light, officials said.

"The loss of a loved one is an immense tragedy," said LA County District George Gascón in a press conference on Thursday evening, "It leaves a void that can never be filled."

Authorities identified Officer Darrell Cunningham of the department's West L.A. division as the off-duty officer killed in the crash. Both Cunningham and his front-seat passenger and close friend, 31-year-old Jorge Soriano, were pronounced dead at the scene.

"There's no traffic at 1:15 a.m.," said Cunnigham's mother at the press conference. "Why the rush? 100 miles per hour to do what? Where did he have to go?"

LAPD Chief Michel Moore applauded the district attorney's charges, calling high-speed driving and road rage "decisions" not "accidents."

According to Moore, Los Angeles saw nearly 300 deaths due to traffic collisions in the past year. He said this increase boils down to a "simple fact:" that people have lost their sense of responsibility.

"There has to be a sense of consequence," said Moore. "This is a step to reassure others that there will be consequences."

Officials initially arrested the 20-year-old suspect, Olivarez, on gross vehicular manslaughter at the crash site on Saturday morning. He was released from custody into medical staff care at a local hospital.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore at Saturday's press conference.

On Wednesday, authorities added two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and drug causing injury, against Olivarez. He is now being held on over $4 million bail at the Van Nuys jail, according to county records.

If convicted, Olivarez could face life in prison.

An off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy was also a passenger in the back seat of Cunningham's white Infiniti, and was one of three injured in the crash, authorities said.

A woman inside the BMW was able to free herself from the wreckage, officials said. She suffered serious injuries.

"All others were trapped because of the force and level of damage created by this horrific collision," said Moore at the press conference.

LAPD officer and passenger killed in Northridge crash

Authorities identified Officer Darrell Cunningham of the department's West L.A. division as the off-duty officer killed in the crash.

During the earlier stages of the investigation, Olivarez and two others were being treated for serious injuries. The off-duty San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy suffered a broken hip and "other serious injuries" but will likely survive, Moore said at the press conference.

Authorities confirmed that Olivarez was out on bail facing robbery charges at the time the crash occurred.

A memorial for Cunningham was placed at the West Los Angeles Police station on Sunday.

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Moore said Cunningham, who had just less than five years on the job, is survived by a fiancée, a 3-year-old son and a 6-year-old son.

"We mourn the loss of Officer Darrell Cunningham who was killed along with his friend by the senseless violence of a DUI driver. May God welcome him home," Moore posted Saturday on X. "We will do everything possible to support his fiancée, 2 young boys, mom & 2 brothers."

One of Cunningham's sons celebrates his birthday the day after his father's funeral, and Cunningham was planning on surprising him with Disneyland tickets, his mother said.

"You never know when your loved one is going to walk out of the house and never return," said Cunningham's mother. "We've gotta do better."

According to Moore, Soriano was planning on joining LAPD in January of next year.

"Hundreds of people have been impacted," said Soriano's godmother, "Because of one person's bad decision."