Best-selling author Jillian Lauren, wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was shot and injured by the police in Los Angeles, and later was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pointing a gun at LAPD officers from her front yard.
Authorities said that the 51-year-old Lauren (identified by police as Jillian Shriner and listed as Jillian Lauren Shriner in jail records) pointed a gun at officers who were searching for hit-and-run suspects in a residential Los Angeles neighborhood. The LAPD said in a statement that Lauren Shriner sustained injuries that were not life-threatening after the shooting in the northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock on Thursday.
Police said they were assisting California Highway Patrol officers in their search for three suspects from a misdemeanor hit-and-run; while pursuing one of the suspects who had been running through a backyard. The LAPD said in a press release: “As the officers were in the rear yard of that residence, they observed a female, later identified as 51-year-old Jillian Shriner, in the yard of a neighboring residence armed with a handgun. The officers ordered Shriner to drop the handgun numerous times; however, she refused.” Police fired at Shriner after she allegedly pointed her handgun at the officers, striking her. LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar told reporters it is unclear at this time if she fired at the officers: “We have looked at some of the body-worn video. There is not a clear view of what she did with that firearm. We still have multiple interviews to do in this as well as look at any other personal surveillance video that some of these homes may have.”
Shriner went into her home but later emerged with another woman and a child, and was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for treatment. A 9 mm handgun was recovered from her home, according to police. Officers subsequently determined Shriner was not involved in the earlier hit-and-run; one of the male suspects sought in that incident was detained by California Highway Patrol, while the other two were not found.
Shriner was released on bail on Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in court on April 30. Weezer is scheduled to play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, with multiple sources confirming to The Hollywood Reporter that the band is still slated to perform at Coachella this weekend as of press time.
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