Less Than 48 Hours Later, Suspect Caught In Murder of Jacqueline Avant

Beverly Hills police have arrested a suspect in connection with the tragic murder of Jacqueline Avant, wife of the legendary music exec Clarence Avant.

According to CBS Los Angeles, Aariel Maynor, 29, was taken into custody by the Beverly Hills Police Department on Thursday afternoon. 

Authorities identified the suspect from local surveillance video after the robbery and shooting. Maynor was out on parole and reportedly had a lengthy criminal record. 

Police picked Maynor up in a backyard after Los Angeles cops responded to a call about a shooting. They discovered the man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot. He was armed with an AR-15 rifle. The firearm was collected as evidence and connected the two home invasions.

Maynor had just been released from prison on September 1 after serving four years in prison for second-degree robbery. His previous convictions were for another robbery and grand theft.

Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook told CBS Los Angeles, “At this time, we’re only looking at him as a suspect, but again, there’s a lot of evidence to go through, so we’re leaving open the possibility there could be other people involved.”

Although the investigation is still ongoing and the attack didn’t appear random, police believe that Maynor’s arrest eradicated any threats to the public. 

“I don’t think it was a random attack…[but] I can’t speculate on that right now,” Stainbrook said– adding that the murder was “a difficult day for our city.”

As Sis2Sis previously

reported, Jacqueline, 81, was shot in the stomach inside the Beverly Hills home she shared with her husband of almost six decades when Maynor allegedly broke into the domicile. A security guard was also shot during the robbery.

The wife and mother succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a local hospital. 

Funeral arrangements are still pending for Jacqueline.