Clarence Avant’s wife Jacqueline was shot and killed on Wednesday (Dec. 1) during a home invasion, TMZ reports. According to law enforcement, the couple’s home in the Beverly Hills’ Trousdale Estates neighborhood was attacked by armed robbers early Wednesday morning.
Beverly Hills police received a 911 call about a shooting at the home around 2:30 a.m. PST. However, by the time officers arrived to the scene, Jacqueline had already been shot by the intruders and rushed to a nearby hospital. A source close to the family said robbers fired shots into the home, hitting Jacqueline.
Legendary music executive Clarence was also at home during the attack, though it’s unknown if he was harmed.
Jacqueline, Clarence’s wife of 54 years, was tragically pronounced dead at the hospital. She was 81 years old.
Jacqueline previously served as president of the Neighborhood of Watts, a support organization for the South Central Community Child Care Center. She was also a N.O.W. chairman and on the Board of Directors at UCLA’s International Student Center.
Clarence was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in October and honored with the organization’s Ahmet Ertegun award, which recognizes non-performing music industry professionals. Former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and Bill Withers spoke about the 90-year-old’s impact in the music industry in a video address. Clarence, known as the Godfather of Black Music, founded Sussex Records and served as chairman of Motown Records.
He also executive produced Save the Children, the famed documentary that chronicled performers who appeared at Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1972 Operation PUSH exposition in Chicago.
The couple’s daughter, Nicole Avant, is married to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. We at REVOLT send our deepest condolences to the Avant family at this tragic time and will continue to update the story as more information unfolds.