Avant Family Responds To Fatal Beverly Hills Shooting: Police

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Jacqueline Avant's family thanked the public for its outpouring of love Wednesday afternoon, just 12 hours after Avant was fatally shot in the Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills police confirmed Avant was the victim in Wednesday's shooting, which Netflix had previously confirmed. Avant was the mother-in-law of Ted Sarandos, Netflix's CEO, and was married to legendary music executive Clarence Avant.

An intruder shot Avant around 2 a.m. in Beverly Hills; she was taken to Cedars-Sanai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

No suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with the shooting.

No one else was injured in the incident, though it seems a security guard was present, said Mark Stainbrook, chief of the Beverly Hills Police Department, in a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The motive for the shooting was unknown, Stainbrook said. He did not confirm reports that the incident was an attempted robbery. It is unknown whether the shooter knew Jacqueline Avant or whether the incident was related to other crimes, he said.

Police remained on the scene collecting evidence and investigating around 2 p.m. Wednesday, Stainbrook said. Beverly Hills is known for its elaborate camera system, and officers will use all avenues of evidence collection in their investigation, Stainbrook said.

The type of crime is rare, especially in Beverly Hills, he added.

"I want to reassure the Beverly Hills community that your city is safe and one of the safest in the nation," he said. "We continue to deploy all resources across residential neighborhoods and business districts. Crime of any type will not be tolerated in our city, and we will not rest until the suspect or suspects in this case are brought to justice."

Related: Wife Of Music Exec Clarence Avant Killed In Beverly Hills

The Avant and Sarandos families issued a statement Wednesday about Jacqueline Avant's death.

"The Entire Avant and Sarandos families wish to thank everyone for their outpouring of love, support and heartfelt condolences for Jacqueline Avant. 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. She will be missed by her family, friends and all of the people she has helped throughout her amazing life."

Stainbrook also addressed Jacqueline's contributions to the community.

"The Avant family's contribution to the world of entertainment and to better communities across Los Angeles are unmatched. There are no words to express our profound sorrow for this immense loss for Jacqueline's husband Clarence, their children and the entire Avant family," Stainbrook said.