Justice for Jacqueline Avant: Suspect Connected to Her Murder Arrested
Clarence and Jacqueline Avant (Twitter)
Devastating news broke on Wednesday, December 1, detailing the murder of Jacqueline Avant. The Beverly Hills Police Department held a conference on Thursday, December 2, 2021, to report the arrest of the suspect connected to the shooting.
Jacqueline Avant lived her life in Los Angeles as a philanthropist and wife to legendary music executive Clarence Avant. Police reported that Mrs. Avant was shot in her Beverly Hills home earlier on Wednesday.
According to Associated Press, police arrived at their home approximately at 2:23 a.m. and found Avant with a gunshot wound. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive the injury, she was 81 years old. The motive of the suspect remained unclear, the Beverly Hils police reported that nothing was stolen and no one else was injured.
As a philanthropist, Avant dedicated her life’s energy to supporting impacted communities in South Los Angeles and Watts. She was also on the board of directors of the International Student Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Referencing the aforementioned source, a 29-year-old man was arrested in connection with Avant’s murder, Aariel Maynor was captured. Police stated the suspect’s car leaving eastbound from Beverly Hills the same mourning Avant was shot. Los Angeles Police found Maynor in a backyard, suffering from a self inflicted gunshot wound on his foot. He claimed to have injured himself when he was allegedly robbing Avant’s home.
Beverly Hills Police Department said Maynor is the “sole suspect” connected to this case. Prior to this unfortunate event, Maynor accrued a record dating back to 2013, which included robbery, grand theft, and domestic violence charges.
Maynor was arrested about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday for an unrelated crime in the 6000 block of Graciosa Drive, this was committed about an hour after Avant’s shooting. City News Service captured statements from former U.S. President Bill Clinton and NBA legend Magic Johnson.Clinton called Avant “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.’Johnson said he and his wife were “absolutely devastated.” He stated, “This is the saddest day in our lives,’ Jackie was the sweetest person you could ever meet. She had a beautiful soul, kind heart and always had a kind word for everybody. She was quiet, yet powerful, & very smart. We are praying for Clarence, Nicole & Alex’s loss. Our thoughts & prayers go out to the entire family.”Congresswoman Karen Bass released a statement on the sudden loss of Avant, “I’m heartbroken by this morning’s news of the tragic and shocking murder of Mrs. Jacqueline Avant. Mrs. Avant was a force of compassion and empowerment locally and nationally for decades, as well as a model of service and giving back to those who needed it most. The devastating events of last night along with recent reports of brazen crime in Los Angeles rupture the expectation of safety we have for our friends, families and fellow Angelenos. Whether you are in South Los Angeles or Beverly Hills, all of us have a right to be safe and last night was an absolute violation of that right. Those responsible must be held fully accountable. My thoughts are with Mr. Avant, Nicole and Ted, Alex and the rest of the Avant family as they mourn the loss of such a wonderful wife, mother and friend.”
