The mayor of a Los Angeles suburb has been shot dead during an argument with his wife.
Daniel Crespo (45) was pronounced dead at a hospital, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Crystal Hernandez said, while his wife was taken into custody.
Mr Crespo and his wife, Levette Crespo (43) had gotten into an argument. Their son, Daniel Jr. (19) tried to intervene, and Crespo got into a struggle with him, Ms Hernandez said.
Levette Crespo then shot her husband several times in the torso, she added.
Mr Crespo and his wife were high school sweethearts who married in 1986. They met in New York, according to a biography on the city’s website.
Bell Gardens, a suburb of about 43,000, is located about 18 miles south-east of Los Angeles. Mr Crespo was elected to the City Council in 2001. The council is a part-time job and members take turns serving as mayor.
The city’s website displayed an image of a black bow and a statement from Mayor Pro Tem Priscilla Flores and three council members that said the shooting does not appear to be related to Mr Crespo’s mayoral activities.
“Our thoughts and prayers should be with Mayor Crespo’s family at this tragic time,” the statement said.
Mr Crespo has been a county deputy probation officer for 15 years, according to the website. However, county CEO Bill Fujioka stated in a Twitter posting that Crespo had more than 21 years with the probation department.
PA