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Police charge suspect in death of Jacqueline Avant, music icon Clarence Avant's wife

Police have charged a suspect in connection to the fatal robbery that left Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music icon and executive Clarence Avant, dead. She was 81.

Jacqueline Avant was shot and killed during a home invasion Dec. 1 at her and her husband's Beverly Hills residence. Police and paramedics arrived at the home after a 2:23 a.m. call to find Jacqueline Avant with a gunshot wound, Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said at news conference that afternoon. She was taken to a hospital but did not survive.

Prosecutors filed charges Monday against 29-year-old Aariel Maynor in the fatal shooting. He is also charged with the attempted murder of the Avants’ security guard, whom he allegedly shot at during the robbery but did not wound.

Maynor’s arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

“Mrs. Avant was a treasured member of our community. Her generosity and goodwill touched so many lives,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a news release.

Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music producer Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during a home invasion Wednesday.
Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music producer Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during a home invasion Wednesday.

Maynor is additionally charged with one count of felon with a firearm — an assault long barrel pistol — and two counts of residential burglary with person present. He has previous felony convictions for assault, robbery and grand theft and was on parole at the time of the shooting.

A Netflix spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY on Dec. 1 that Jacqueline Avant was the victim of the robbery. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is married to Jacqueline's daughter Nicole Avant.

In a statement to USA TODAY, the Avant and Sarandos families thanked everyone "for their outpouring of love, support and heartfelt condolences for Jacqueline."

"Jacqueline was an amazing woman, wife, mother and philanthropist and a 55 year resident of Beverly Hills who has made an immeasurable positive impact on the arts community," the statement said. "She will be missed by her family, friends and all of the people she has helped throughout her amazing life."

TMZ was the first to report Jacqueline Avant's death.

"The City of Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hills Police Department extends our deepest sympathies to the victim’s families," police wrote in a media release Wednesday.

Jacqueline Avant was a local philanthropist who was president of the Neighbors of Watts and served on the board of directors of the International Student Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jacqueline Avant is survived by her husband, Clarence Avant, whom she married in 1967; daughter Nicole Avant; and son Alexander Avant.

Clarence Avant (R) and Jacqueline Avant attend City Of Hope Spirit Of Life Gala 2019 on October 10, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.
Clarence Avant (R) and Jacqueline Avant attend City Of Hope Spirit Of Life Gala 2019 on October 10, 2019 in Santa Monica, California.

Clarence Avant, 90, is a Grammy-winning executive, concert promoter and manager who mentored and helped the careers of artists including Bill Withers, Little Willie John, L.A. Reid, Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

He founded Sussex Records and Tabu Records in the 1960s and 1970s, and was chair of Motown Records in the 1990s.

Clarence Avant, who is known as the "Godfather of Black Music," was recently honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Ahmet Ertegun award.

Netflix released the documentary "The Black Godfather" in 2019 looking at the last 60 years in Clarence Avant's life as a music pioneer and businessman.

Former President Bill Clinton paid tribute on Twitter.

“Jackie Avant was 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,” Clinton said. “She inspired admiration, respect & affection in everyone who knew her. We are heartbroken. She will be deeply missed.”

NBA superstar Magic Johnson said he was "devastated" by the news of Avant's death on Twitter: "Cookie and I are absolutely devastated at the loss of one of our closest friends Jackie Avant. She was senselessly murdered last night in a home invasion. This is the saddest day in our lives."

Viola Davis wrote: "So sorry for the Avant family. My heart goes out to you!!! OMG!!!! Where are we??!!! WHAT are we?!!"

"My heart breaks for Clarence and Nicole and all the Avant family. This world can be so cruel and cold!! I have no idea what kind of sub-human could shoot an 81 year old woman, and in her own home," Tyler Perry tweeted.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Netflix for June 2019:'The Black Godfather' and more movies released

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacqueline Avant killed during robbery; Police charge suspect