Jacqueline Avant, the wife of music legend Clarence Avant, was shot and killed during a home invasion robbery in Los Angeles on Wednesday. According to TMZ, the perpetrators broke into the couple’s Trousdale Estates home, near Beverly Hills, around 2:30 a.m. and shot the 81-year-old woman. Clarence was home at the time of the shooting, but it's not clear if he was injured.

Other celebrity home invasions have recently taken place in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods. In November, masked robbers tracked former BET host Terrence Jenkins to his Sherman Oaks home and tried to block him in with an SUV, the Los Angeles Times reports. Jenkins was able to flee in his car as shots were fired.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley was targeted in October, when robbers stole up to $1 million from her mansion. Police said the TV star may have been followed to her home before two men smashed their way into the house.

“Both suspects threatened to kill her as she pleaded for her life and the lives of her young children,” police said, according to the L.A. Times. “In fear for her safety, the victim complied with the suspects’ demands and directed them to valuables. The suspects took high-end handbags, jewelry and watches.”

In 2020, Pop Smoke was gunned down in his Los Angeles home. Police said the rapper may have been followed home after giving out his address on social media, as Blavity previously reported. 

“When officers arrived there approximately six minutes later, they discovered a victim inside the house had been shot,” LAPD Capt. Steve Lurie said, according to NBC Palm Springs. “They called the fire department, who arrived and transported that victim to Cedars-Sinai, where he was pronounced dead.”

LAPD Sgt. Hector Olivera added that "suspects are targeting individuals [with] expensive jewelry, expensive cars and things of that nature,” according to the L.A. Times.

“People need to be aware of the surroundings, especially leaving nightclubs, restaurants and what have you,” Olivera said.

Four years ago, Los Angeles saw a trend of robbers who would knock on celebrity homes and enter if no one answered. Former Los Angeles Dodger Yasiel Puig, ex-Laker Nick Young and Nicki Minaj were among the celebrities who were targeted during the trend.

Clarence, who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was married to Jacqueline for 54 years. While Clarence is known as the godfather of Black music, Jacqueline is remembered for her work in the community. The 81-year-old served as the president of the Neighbors of Watts, a support group that focused on childcare, and she worked with the board of directors of UCLA's International Student Center.

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