Philanthropist killed in Beverly Hills home
By City News Service
A Los Angeles man was charged this week with murder and other counts stemming from the shooting of Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music executive Clarence Avant, during a robbery at the couple’s Trousdale Estates home in Beverly Hills.
Aariel Maynor, 29, was scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday at the Airport Branch courthouse on one count each of murder, attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm, along with two counts of residential burglary with a person present, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint also includes an allegation that Maynor used an assault long barrel pistol during the crimes.
Maynor allegedly shot and killed Jacqueline Avant, 81, at about 2:25 a.m. inside her home in the 1100 block of Maytor Place.
He is also accused of shooting at a security guard—who was not wounded—during the robbery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Maynor was arrested after allegedly accidentally shooting himself while breaking into a home in the 6000 block of Graciosa Drive in Hollywood Hills roughly an hour after Avant’s shooting, authorities said.
Los Angeles police responding to that call found Maynor at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound to a foot, apparently self-inflicted accidentally, according to Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook.
The police chief said Los Angeles police contacted Beverly Hills police, and detectives “collected evidence connecting Maynor” to the Avant shooting. Among the evidence collected was “a suspected weapon” from the crime, described by police as an AR-15 rifle. Stainbrook said Maynor is on parole and has an “extensive” criminal record, which bars him from possessing a weapon.
According to court records, Maynor pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge in July of 2013 and was placed on probation, but later that year, he pleaded no contest to a robbery charge.
