Bell Gardens, California suffered a tragic loss on Tuesday after their mayor was shot and killed by his own wife during a domestic quarrel, claimed officials.
According to spokeswoman Nicole Nishida form the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, 45-year-old Mayor Daniel Crespo and wife Levette Crespo, had a heated argument in Bell Gardens California on Tuesday afternoon.
The moment their 19-year-old son tried to intervene, things started getting physical with the Bell Gardens California mayor and the boy. Nishida said Levette eventually acquired a handgun, which she used to shoot the government official multiple times in the upper torso.
Paramedics were called in to their home, a condominium in Bell Gardens California, shortly after 2:30 p.m., reports CBS and the Associated Press.
Bell Gardens California Mayor Crespo was later pronounced dead at a hospital, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Crystal Hernandez.
Hernandez added that 43-year-old Levette had been taken into custody for questioning. However, officials in Bell Gardens California did not charge her and she was released later on.
Police have not yet released a motive for the couple's argument, according to CNN.
"The facts of the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office who will determine if criminal charges will be filed," stated the sheriff's department.
According to the Bell Gardens California mayor's city website biography, Levette and Daniel met in New York. Both were born and raised in Brooklyn and they moved to Bell Gardens California in the 1980s.
They were also reportedly high school sweethearts. Crespo eventually married Levette in 1986, and they had two children - a son and a daughter.
Crespo had experience as a probation officer. He reportedly held on to the job even after becoming the mayor of Bell Gardens, California.
Crespo also worked on the Bell Gardens City Council after being elected in 2001, reports the New York Times. He did the job part-time and took turns serving as mayor of Bell Gardens, California.
The suburb is located about 18 miles southeast of Los Angeles, with about 43,000 residents.
On Tuesday night, the city's website had an image of a black bow and a statement from Mayor Pro Tem Priscilla Flores and three council members. The statement said the Bell Gardens, California shooting doesn't seem to be related to Crespo's job as a mayor.
"Our thoughts and prayers should be with Mayor Crespo's family at this tragic time," the statement said.
The deceased mayor of Bell Gardens, California had worked as a county deputy probation officer for 15 years. However, county CEO Bill Fujioka stated via Twitter that Crespo had more than 21 years with the probation department.
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