LOS ANGELES: Jillian Lauren, the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was shot and injured by police in Los Angeles after allegedly refusing to drop a firearm when ordered to do so. The incident unfolded on Wednesday in the Eagle Rock neighbourhood of north-east LA, leaving the 51-year-old author facing a charge of attempted murder.
According to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers were assisting the California Highway Patrol in their search for three individuals involved in a minor hit-and-run incident. Lauren was not connected to the suspects, but during the pursuit, police reportedly encountered her outside her home holding a handgun.
Authorities allege that Lauren was in the front yard of a neighbouring property when officers confronted her. Despite multiple commands to drop the weapon, she allegedly raised it towards them. Officers responded with gunfire, striking her. Lauren then reportedly fled into her home, where she was subsequently taken into custody and transported to hospital. Her injuries are said to be non-life-threatening.
A 9mm handgun was recovered from the property, police confirmed.
Los Angeles County jail records show that Lauren is being held on $1 million bail. She has not yet appeared in court, and it remains unclear whether she has secured legal representation. Enquiries to her literary manager and messages left on her author website went unanswered at the time of publication. Likewise, a representative for the band Weezer has not commented on the situation.
Scott Shriner, who joined Weezer in the early 2000s, is not believed to have been involved in the incident. The band is still scheduled to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this coming Saturday.
Lauren is a noted author, best known for her bestselling memoirs Some Girls: My Life in a Harem (2010) and Everything You Ever Wanted (2015). She married Shriner in 2005 and the couple have two children together.
Police clarified that the incident involving Lauren occurred while they were assisting with the unrelated investigation of a hit-and-run case. Officers had been pursuing one of the suspects through a residential area when they encountered Lauren. At this stage, there is no evidence suggesting she was involved in or had knowledge of the initial traffic incident.
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One of the three hit-and-run suspects was eventually located, cited by the California Highway Patrol, and subsequently released.
The LAPD has not confirmed whether Lauren discharged her weapon at any point during the incident. The circumstances surrounding her decision to brandish a firearm in the presence of officers remain under investigation. Police body camera footage is expected to be reviewed as part of the inquiry.
The dramatic episode has cast a shadow over the otherwise high-profile preparations for Coachella, where Weezer are scheduled to perform before thousands of fans. While the band has yet to release an official statement, observers note that Shriner’s participation may still go ahead, barring developments in his wife’s legal proceedings.
As the investigation continues, the case is expected to attract significant media attention, given the couple’s public profiles in both the music and literary spheres. The LAPD has stated it will release further information as it becomes available.
For now, the question remains: what led to the shocking confrontation outside an otherwise quiet Los Angeles home—and what consequences might Jillian Lauren face in the days ahead?
