Aariel Maynor, Suspected Killer of Jacqueline Avant, Wife of Music Legend, Pleads Not Guilty in Her Fatal Shooting

The suspected killer of music executive Clarence Avant’s wife, Jacqueline, has pleaded not guilty to killing the victim in a home invasion earlier this month.

According to Fox News, 29-year-old murder suspect Aariel Maynor, who is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, being a felon with a firearm, as well as two counts of residential burglary with a person present, has pled not guilty to the charges. The judge has set the amount of his bail at $4.2 million.

“Mrs. Avant was a treasured member of our community. Her generosity and good will touched so many lives,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a written statement. “My office is working closely with the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills police departments in the investigation and prosecution of this case. We must continue to work together to hold accountable the people who commit violent crimes against our community.”

Music legend Clarence Avant’s wife of 54 years, Jacqueline, was killed in a home invasion on Dec. 1.

According to TMZ, the incident happened in the Trousdale Estates, located near Beverly Hills. Police officials said the Beverly Hills Police Department received a phone call about the break-in at 2:30 a.m. The dispatcher was told that someone had been shot. By the time police officers arrived, Jacqueline had been rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A security guard was also shot, TMZ reported, but Clarence was not injured.

According to CBS Los Angeles, police officials, on Dec. 2, arrested Maynor. Maynor’s vehicle was seen on various surveillance videos heading eastbound out of the city shortly after the fatal home invasion.

On the same night of the killing, Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division police officers were notified about a shooting and burglary in the 6000 block of Graciosa Drive at about 3:30 a.m. Maynor was discovered in the backyard of the home, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his foot.