Suspect arrested for killing of Clarence Avant’s wife, 81, in Beverly Hills home invasion
BREAKING: Suspect is arrested for killing of Clarence Avant’s wife, 81, in Beverly Hills home invasion: Cops reveal private security guard was armed but did not return fire during the targeted attack
The slaying of Jacqueline Avant, 81, was likely not ‘random,’ Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said WednesdayHer husband, legendary music producer Clarence Avant, 90, was home at the time but was not injuredA security guard was also on the property Residents of Trousdale Estate said just last week several neighbors got together and hired a private security firm in response to a recent spike in burglaries Clarence Avant’s wife of 54 years, Avant, died of a gunshot woundFollowing the killing, residents say they have individually hired armed guards for extra protectionBeverly Hills police confirmed they would be increasing patrol in the area and the department has also hired a private security companyThe department is investigating the case as a homicide but doesn’t yet have a motive for the killing
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Police have taken a suspect into custody in the shooting death of Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant.
Family sources have confirmed that a man has been arrested in connection to the death of the 81-year-old who was shot dead early Wednesday morning in her $7 million Beverly Hills mansion despite a security guard being on the property.
Police have not yet named the suspect or commented on a possible motivation for the fatal shooting, but on Wednesday Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said the horrific slaying was likely not ‘random.’
‘I don’t think it’s a random attack,’ he said at a press conference on Wednesday. ‘but I can’t speculate on that right now.’
‘Obviously, someone went into the home, we just don’t know what the purpose was,’ Stainbrook told reporters. ‘A lot of times people think home invasion when it comes to robbing or burglarizing a residence. … I think there are a lot of nuances to the term home invasion.’
Police said Clarence and a security guard were home at the time of the attack but not harmed.
Neighbors of the Avants were so worried by the recent rise in burglaries in the neighborhood that they hired armed guards a week before the music executive’s wife was killed.
Residents of Trousdale Estate in Beverly Hills told TMZ that just last week, several neighbors got together and hired a private security firm in response to a recent spike in home and car burglaries in the area.
The neighbors were so afraid, they say they pooled money and hired a security company, but they had not started patrols yet before Wednesday’s tragic shooting.
Jacqueline Avant, with her husband Clarence, was shot and killed in her Beverly Hills home
Beverly Hills police were called to the home around 2:30 am Wednesday after a 911 caller said someone had been shot and killed. Officers arriving at the scene discovered one victim, Avant’s wife of 54 years, Jacqueline, suffering from a gunshot wound. She succumbed to her wounds later that day
Shocking photos obtained by DailyMail.com show the sliding glass door that was smashed by home invaders who killed the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant
Security guards patrol behind police tape set up in the Trousdale Estates section of Beverly Hills where Jacqueline Avant was shot and killed in her home
An aerial view of Clarence and Jacqueline Avant’s Beverly Hills home where the music executive’s wife was shot in an apparent burglary
Police presence outside Avant’s home after the tragic shooting death of his 81-year-old wife Jacqueline
On Wednesday, Clarence Avant’s wife of 54 years, Jacqueline Avant, died of a gunshot wound in what appears to have been a home invasion, although police have still declined to say how many suspects were involved, if anyone witnessed the attack or whether this incident is connected to a recent string of burglaries targeting the wealthy in the Los Angeles area.
Jacqueline was transported to a local hospital but died later that morning. She was 81 years old.
Law enforcement sources told the LA Times that at least one burglar made it into the $7 million mansion before Jacqueline was killed, although it is unclear if that person was apprehended, and no description for a possible suspect has been issued.
Beverly Hills police were called to the home in Trousdale Estates around 2.30am Wednesday after a 911 caller said someone had been shot, according to Beverly Hills Stainbrook.
Officers arriving at the scene discovered one victim, Avant’s wife of 54 years, Jacqueline Avant, suffering from a gunshot wound. Clarence Avant, 90, was in the home at the time but was not injured.
Police said there were no suspects at the scene when they arrived, and so far a manhunt has not led investigators to the killer or killers.
The incident comes as a string of ‘follow-home’ robberies plague residents of various upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods
Investigators work the scene of Jaqueline Avant’s murder after an apparent home invader shot and killed her
The home (pictured) in Trousdale Estates, a ritzy private community just outside Beverly Hills, is worth more than $7 million
The scene of the crime at Clarence Avant’s $7 million home was taped off by Beverly Hills police Wednesday morning. An investigation is currently ongoing
Clarence was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016, with his wife by his side
Following the brutal killing residents say they have individually hired armed guards for extra protection, TMZ reported.
Beverly Hills Police confirmed they would be increasing patrol in the area and the department has also hired a private security company to adequately cover the area.
Beverly Hills Police said they have not found any connection between Avant’s shooting and the recent rise in looting in California.
Tributes are already pouring out for the noted philanthropist, including from Bill Clinton and Magic Johnson, and Tyler Perry is vowing to devote ‘every available resource’ to tracking down those responsible.
Jacqueline (left) was rushed to a hospital after the attack, but succumbed to her injuries shortly after. She leaves behind a 53-year-old daughter, Nicole (far right), and a son (not pictured). Nicole, a former United States Ambassador to the Bahamas, is currently married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos (third from left)
Jacqueline, who once modeled in the Ebony Fashion Fair, served as president of the Neighbors of Watts, a support group that focused on child care. She also served on the board of directors of the International Student Center at UCLA.
The couple’s daughter, Nicole Avant, 53, is married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. Nicole was also ambassador to the Bahamas, appointed by then-president Barack Obama in 2009.
The Motown fixture’s life and legacy have been chronicled by Sarandos’ streaming service in 2019, in a documentary titled The Black Godfather.
The Netflix-run production was produced by his daughter Nicole, and detailed how Avant oversaw impressive deals for black artists throughout his illustrious career, which spanned decades, through narrations from Barack Obama, Snoop Dogg, Bill Clinton, and more.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes Avant as ‘cool, savvy, confident, and fearless – someone who makes the impossible possible. He’s served a variety of roles during his illustrious career, including manager, label owner, concert organizer, event producer, political fundraiser, and mentor.’
It continues: ‘Avant’s career began in the 1950s when he served as the manager for Little Willie John and jazz organist Jimmy Smith. In late 1969, he launched Sussex Records, a label that soon achieved a Top Ten hit with Dennis Coffey’s Scorpio. The most notable artist on Sussex was Bill Withers, who released his first three records for the label, featuring the hits Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean on Me, and Use Me. In 1971, Avant launched Avant Garde Broadcasting, one of the first Black-owned radio stations in the country.’
The storied exec is also an accomplished producer and actor – known for Deliver Us from Evil in 1975, The Color Purple in 1985 and Jason’s Lyric in 1994.
Jacqueline, Clarence and Gail Mitchell at the Jazz Foundation honors in LA in 2019
A security camera is positioned at the entrance of the street at Trousdale Estates
A flower delivery arrives at the Avant home Wednesday in the wake of the early morning attack
In a statement to DailyMail.com, the victim’s family said: ‘The entire Avant and Sarandos families wish to thank everyone for their outpouring of love, support and heartfelt condolences for Jacqueline Avant.’
‘Jacqueline was an amazing woman, wife, mother and philanthropist and a 55 year resident of Beverly Hills who has made an immeasurable positive impact on the arts community. She will be missed by her family, friends and all of the people she has helped throughout her amazing life,’ said the grieving family.
Bill Clinton wrote in a tweet: ‘Jackie Avant was a wonderful woman, a great partner to Clarence and mother to Alex and Nicole, an active citizen & a dear friend to Hillary and me for 30 years.’
‘She inspired admiration, respect & affection in everyone who knew her. We are heartbroken. She will be deeply missed,’ added Clinton.
Basketball icon Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson wrote on Twitter that he and his wife were ‘devastated’ by the news of Avant’s death, calling her ‘one of our closest friends.’
‘This is the saddest day in our lives,’ he wrote.
Actress Viola Davis tweeted: ‘So sorry for the Avant family. My heart goes out to you!!! OMG!!!! Where are we??!!! WHAT are we?!!’
Famed actor and director Tyler Perry vowed that ‘every available resource will be used to find whoever is responsible for this awful nightmare.’
‘This world can be so cruel and cold!! I have no idea what kind of sub-human could shoot an 81 year old woman, and in her own home,’ tweeted Perry.
In a published statement, Los Angeles Sentinel owner and family friend Danny Bakewell Sr said that Clarence Avant was ‘currently grieving but resting with his family.’
Photos of the crime scene show a broken sliding glass door on the rear of the home, with shards of glass strewn about the outdoor pool deck. It is unclear if the glass was broken by the gunshot, or during an altercation which culminated in Jacqueline’s murder.
A security guard was stationed at the house, according to the outlet. He was reportedly shot but did not return fire at the attackers. Sources told TMZ, which first reported the murder, that Clarence was not injured.
Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said: ‘The motives in this case are still unknown, and we are investigating all possible motives. We will not speculate on anything that’s out there, including if this was a robbery attempt or not’
The scene outside of Clarence Avant’s $7 million Beverly Hills home after his wife was shot and killed in an apparent burglary on Wednesday
A family source told TMZ that robbers fired shots as they entered the home and hit Avant’s wife. The home is valued at an estimated $7 million. It’s unclear if the suspect or suspects made off with any stolen goods.
Stainbrook had said Wednesday afternoon that the department is currently conducting an investigation into the incident, which they have determined is a homicide.
At least one suspect, the shooter, had gotten inside the Avants’ home when he opened fire at Jacqueline, TMZ further reported, speaking to sources connected to the investigation. It’s still unclear how many suspects were involved.
No suspects have been identified as of yet. Police say the assailant or assailants fled the scene before they arrived.
Police initially said the suspects were likely looking to rob the elderly couple, citing a broken glass door at the back of the property.
However, Chief Stainbrook later said: ‘The motives in this case are still unknown, and we are investigating all possible motives.’
‘We will not speculate on anything that’s out there, including if this was a robbery attempt or not,’ he added.
