Police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Jacqueline Avant, a philanthropist and the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant, killed at their home in Beverly Hills, California.
The Beverly Hills Police Department announced the arrest on Thursday afternoon.
Police and paramedics arrived at the home after a 2:23 a.m. Wednesday call to find Jacqueline Avant, 81, with a gunshot wound, Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said at an afternoon news conference. She was taken to a hospital, but did not survive.
The suspect or suspects were gone when police arrived. Nothing was stolen from the house, Stainbrook said.
“Someone went into the home, we don’t know the purpose behind it,” the chief said. “I don’t think it’s a random attack but I can’t speculate on that.”
Stainbrook, who is in his first week as chief, said no one else was injured in the shooting. A security guard was at the home. He would not further describe the interaction between the shooter and Jacqueline Avant.
Jacqueline Avant was a longtime local philanthropist who led organizations that helped low-income neighborhoods including Watts and South Los Angeles, and was on the board of directors of the International Student Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The Avants’ daughter, Nicole Avant, is a film producer and former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and is married to Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.
In a statement Thursday to USA TODAY, the Avant and Sarandos families expressed their “deepest gratitude to The City of Beverly Hills, the BHPD and all law enforcement for their diligence on this matter.”
“Now, let justice be served,” they said.
The families also thanked everyone “for their outpouring of love, support and heartfelt condolences for Jacqueline” in a Wednesday statement to USA TODAY.
“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,” the statement said. “She will be missed by her family, friends and all of the people she has helped throughout her amazing life.”
Tributes to Jacqueline Avant poured in Wednesday from across the country. She was remembered by former President Bill Clinton, basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson, music star Quincy Jones and Rep. Karen Bass (D-California).