Did LAPD jump the gun in arresting D4vd in Celeste Rivas Hernandez's killing? D.A’s office responds as shocking claims emerge

D4vd Arrest: Seven months after the body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, was found in D4vd’s towed SUV, the alt-pop singer has been arrested on suspicion of killing her. Following his arrest, a fresh claim has emerged that the LAPD was frustrated at the L.A. County District Attorney's office (D.A.) for not filing murder charges against the singer, so they literally took the law into their hands, TMZ reported, citing sources linked to the case.

Detectives arrested the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, on Thursday (April 16, 2026) on suspicion of murder in the investigation of the killing of Hernandez, Los Angeles police said.

Burke was arrested at about 4:30 p.m. On Thursday, police said Burke was arrested at a home near the Chateau Marmont, the legendary Hollywood hotel, which is about two miles from the upscale Hollywood Hills street where Burke's Tesla and Rivas Hernandez's body were found. He was booked into a jail in South Los Angeles with no bail several hours later.


Authorities had not publicly named Burke as a suspect previously. Investigators are expected to present a case to prosecutors on Monday, police said. Burke’s lawyers have declared his innocence. Singer was arrested but was not charged at the time of the arrest.

Criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos, co-host of TMZ’s “2 Angry Men podcast,” told Harvey Levin that sources within the district attorney’s office indicated they were not prepared to charge D4vd, while the LAPD believed there was sufficient evidence and had grown frustrated with the delay.

Levin and Geragos weighed in on the case and D4vd’s arrest, suggesting the LAPD may have acted prematurely. Speaking at the podcast, Geragos stated that the D.A. didn't have its “ducks in a row” and needed more time, but the LAPD wanted to force the D.A.'s hand by arresting the singer.

If the D.A. doesn't file charges by Monday (April 20, 2026), authorities have to set D4vd free, which is not a great look for prosecutors. Geragos says the LAPD is counting on the D.A. filing charges quickly to avoid the embarrassment. According to Geragos, at the time of recording the podcast around 1 PM on Friday, senior officials in the district attorney’s office were still rushing to decide their next course of action.

D.A.'s office responds

"Our office has worked in close coordination with LAPD on this case, sharing resources and information. We have no knowledge of any conflict, as this case has gone through the normal process any case would go through," the D.A.'s office said in a statement to TMZ.

"How is it normal that you spend a year using all your resources, go to the Grand Jury for months, and then LAPD arrests you without a charging document?" Geragos reacted to the D.A.'s statement.

ALSO READ: Was D4vd married? Singer arrested on suspicion of killing Celeste Rivas, found dead in his Tesla