Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of Jacqueline Avant

LOS ANGELES — Police in California arrested a man Thursday in the fatal shooting of Los Angeles philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, the wife of legendary music producer Clarence Avant.

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Aariel Maynor, 29, of Los Angeles, was arrested by Beverly Hills police, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Jacqueline Avant was killed early Wednesday at her Beverly Hills home. She was 81.

During a news conference on Thursday, Beverly Hills police said Maynor used a “traditional” AR-15 rifle during the incident and then shot himself in the foot at another home during an alleged burglary attempt in Hollywood. He was arrested by Los Angeles police and taken to an area hospital, according to the Times.

Multiple surveillance cameras showed Maynor’s vehicle heading east out of Beverly Hills after Jacqueline Avant’s shooting, KTLA reported.

An “astute watch commander” in Hollywood connected the dots to the Avant case and alerted Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Blake Chow said. Maynor has been in police custody since then.

>> Jacqueline Avant, wife of music exec Clarence Avant, fatally shot at home

“It is a sad case, and although we are happy we have an arrest, I feel so bad for the family,” Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook told the Times.

“At this time, we’re only looking at him as a suspect, but again, there’s a lot of evidence to go through, so we’re leaving open the possibility there could be other people involved,” Stainbrook told reporters during the news conference, according to KCBS.

The Avants’ daughter, Nicole Avant, is married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. She produced a 2019 Netflix documentary about her father, “The Black Godfather,” Variety reported.

Jacqueline Avant was known for her philanthropic efforts, including being on the board of directors of UCLA’s International Student Center, the Times reported.

Clarence Avant was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October as the winner of the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Former President Bill Clinton, music producer Quincy Jones, actress Viola Davis and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson were among those who expressed their condolences for Jacqueline Avant on social media, KTTV reported.

Maynor was released from state prison in September and “has an extensive criminal record” involving burglary and robbery, Stainbrook told the Times. He is the only suspect, police told the newspaper.

“To the Beverly Hills Community, let me reassure you, this is one of the most protected and patrolled cities in the world,” Stainbrook said Thursday. “Crime of any kind will not be tolerated here. Let this be a message to anyone thinking of committing a crime in Beverly Hills: You will be caught and brought to justice.”

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