The attack at legendary music executive Clarence Avant's $7million Beverly Hills home - where his wife was shot dead despite a security guard being on the property- might have been targeted, police say.
The horrific slaying of Jacqueline Avant was likely 'not random,' Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said during a Wednesday press conference.
'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 her husband 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
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.
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 Police Chief Mark 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.
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
Jacqueline was transported to a local hospital but died later that morning. She was 81 years old.
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.
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.
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
The incident comes as a string of 'follow-home' robberies plague residents of various upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods
Jacqueline, Clarence and Gail Mitchell at the Jazz Foundation honors in LA in 2019
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.
Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook 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.
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