Variety was informed by the Beverly Hills Police Department that there had been a shooting at the location that resulted in the death of a victim on Wednesday morning, but did not report the identity of the victim. Netflix confirmed that Jacqueline Avant was the victim to Variety, but did not offer any other information.
The Avants’ daughter Nicole Avant is married to Ted Sarandos (Nintendos CEO) and has produced a Netflix documentary in 2019 about her father, “The Black Godfather.”
Magic Johnson was one of the many to express their grief over Avant’s death, tweeting: “Cookie and me are absolutely devastated by the loss of one our closest friends Jackie Avant. She was brutally murdered in a home invasion last night. This is the most tragic day of our lives.
John Mirisch, a Beverly Hills Councilman, said that the Avants had been community members for many decades. This is shocking… Police will have all the tools and resources they need to capture these scumbags.
Cookie and I are devastated by the loss of Jackie Avant, one of our dearest friends. It was a senseless murder that took place last night.
— Earvin Magic Johnson December 1, 2021
The Beverly Hills Police Communications Center received a phone call reporting the shooting at 2:23 AM Wednesday morning. It was about a shooting in the 1100 block Maytor Place area of Trousdale Estates. The victim was taken to the local hospital by paramedics from Beverly Hills Fire Department. Police said that she died. As of Wednesday morning, detectives were still on the scene. The BHPD stated that it would hold a press conference today at 2 p.m.
Police stated that the shooter had left the scene when officers arrived.
Lt. Giovanni Trejo stated that the Beverly Hills Police Department and the City of Beverly Hills extend their deepest sympathy to the victims’ families.
Jacqueline Avant is well-known for her philanthropic work, having served on the board directors of UCLA’s International Student Center as well as serving as president of Neighbors in Watts.
Nicole Du Bois Avant, who was a U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas before she became a film producer and has been an active fundraiser for Democratic causes. Alexander Du Bois Avant is the son of the Avants and was featured in “The Black Godfather.”
Clarence Avant was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 25th, where he was honored by Kamala Harris and Barack Obama.
TMZ reported the shooting death for the first time.