Authorities have confirmed that the suspect involved in the senseless killing of Jacqueline Avant during a botched robbery on Wednesday has been arrested.
Aariel Maynor, 29, was in the process of breaking into a Hollywood house six miles away from Avant’s Trousdale Estates home when he shot himself in the foot. Emergency personnel responded to the scene with news reporters showing a dumbfounded Maynor being carried out on a stretcher. The incident occurred only one hour after Avant was killed.
The night of the break-in, Avant suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she passed away. She was 81 years old.
Beverly Hills Police were able to connect Maynor to the killing of Avant by matching the AR-15 rifle that he shot himself with to the bullets that were shot at the Avant estate. In addition, surveillance cameras captured his vehicle at both homes that were broken into. The authorities said that nothing appears to have been taken during either of the break-ins. A motive has not been discovered.
“The evidence thus far shows that only one suspect was involved in the crime and the motive remains under investigation,” said the Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook. “Our focus now has transitioned from finding a suspect to a continuing investigation that will lead to a successful prosecution.”
Maynor, an electrician who was on parole, is a two-time felon who served five years in prison for second-degree robbery and bodily injury in a 2013 case. He had recently finished serving four years for second-degree robbery, as reported by Joe Orland of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Avant is the wife of Clarence Avant, a music industry legend who was profiled in the Netflix documentary The Black Godfather and was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Avant’s had lived at the Trousdale Estates for over 50 years, becoming a major staple in the community. Jacqueline Avant also spent much of her time with philanthropic causes, serving as entertainment chair of the NOW Benefit auction and president of childcare support group Neighbors of Watts.
Avant’s daughter, Nicole Avant, shared in the philanthropic legacy of her mother and also was a part of the Netflix documentary on her father. She is currently married to Netflix CEO and Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos. The family released the following statement:
“Our 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.”
“I know we use this term a lot, but truly [she was] an angel in the City of Angels,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “She and Clarence, Nicole their daughter, I’ve known for many years, and I’ve seen and witnessed the way their generosity touched the lives and transformed the lives and even saved the lives of so many people in this city and in this country. And my thoughts continue to be with the Avant family today.”
