Two people who helped authorities solve violent crimes despite personal risk were honored Wednesday by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman during a Courage Awards ceremony in Long Beach.
The honorees included a man who helped track down an arson suspect in a deadly mobile home fire, and a woman who came forward years after witnessing her mother kill her father as a child, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“These honorees didn’t just witness horrific acts — they chose to selflessly act when it mattered most,” Hochman said in a statement. “They stepped forward despite fear, despite pressure, and because of that, justice was possible.”
The awards were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Long Beach.
The Courage Awards, established in 1986, recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery by assisting in criminal investigations or prosecutions, aiding victims or helping apprehend suspects.
One of the honorees, Daniel Edwards, witnessed a 2022 mobile home arson in Exposition Park that killed a man. Authorities said Edwards saw the suspect ignite the fire, called 911 and pursued him while relaying his location to police, later identifying him to investigators.
The suspect, 49-year-old Danny Reece, was ultimately convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 11 years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The second honoree, Maxxy Lopez, was 12 years old when she witnessed the killing of her father in 2014, according to Hochman. Prosecutors said she endured years of threats before coming forward at age 20 in 2022 and cooperating with authorities, ultimately testifying in court and helping secure murder convictions against her mother Heidi Juarez and half-brother Melquin Juarez.
Both defendants were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Additional Courage Awards ceremonies are planned later this year in Westchester, Pasadena, Los Angeles and Covina.