Gun, confusion, and a celebrity name: LAPD shooting of author Jillian Lauren sparks outrage and questions
Pranjal Chandra | Apr 10, 2025, 19:12 IST
Jillian Lauren Shriner, author and wife of Weezer's bassist, was shot by LAPD officers responding to a hit-and-run incident in Eagle Rock. Police claim she pointed a handgun at them, though details remain unclear, sparking investigations and raising questions about mental health and police tactics.
In a chaotic sequence of events that unfolded in the quiet Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock, best-selling author and journalist Jillian Lauren Shriner — also known as the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner — was shot by police after allegedly pointing a firearm at officers responding to an unrelated incident.
The 51-year-old author, acclaimed for her investigative work including the haunting true crime book Behold the Monster, is now at the center of a national conversation around mental health, law enforcement tactics, and the intense scrutiny placed on public figures during moments of crisis.
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon when Los Angeles Police Department officers were assisting the California Highway Patrol in tracking down suspects from a hit-and-run crash on the 134 Freeway. The suspects reportedly fled into nearby homes in the residential area.
As officers canvassed the neighborhood, they entered the backyard of a home next to where a suspect had been spotted. There, they encountered Shriner holding a handgun, according to police.
Authorities said officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapon before one or more officers fired. It remains unclear, even with the use of body-worn cameras, whether Shriner fired her weapon or was simply holding it. The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division has launched a probe into the incident, and multiple surveillance angles are being reviewed.
Shriner fled into her house after being shot and was later taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been booked on suspicion of attempted murder, though the investigation is still in its early stages.
In a press conference Wednesday night, LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar admitted the bodycam footage “did not clearly show” what Shriner did with the gun, nor did it confirm whether she discharged it.
“At that point, there were some commands given multiple commands to drop the weapon,” Aguilar stated. “Unfortunately, it did result in an officer-involved shooting.”
A 9 mm handgun was later recovered from her home, police said.
What’s raising eyebrows isn’t just the shooting itself, but the murky details and ambiguity surrounding what led to the confrontation. Did Shriner mistake officers for intruders? Did she feel threatened by the sudden police presence in her backyard? Was there a miscommunication or something deeper?
Shriner, a respected writer and adoptive mother, is no stranger to America’s darkest stories. Her most recent book chronicled the crimes of serial killer Samuel Little, and her work has frequently explored trauma, violence, and survival. She has also been open about her own mental health battles, making her story resonate even more with readers familiar with her work.
The fact that her name is now trending not for her writing, but for being shot by police, raises broader concerns about how public figures especially women with mental health histories are treated when they themselves become part of the narrative.
Neither Shriner’s manager nor a representative for Weezer has issued a public statement, and Scott Shriner has not commented.
Police confirmed that Shriner was not involved in the hit-and-run incident. One of the suspects has been cited and released; the other two remain at large.
For many observers, the story has shifted away from just police procedure and crime reports it’s become a reflection of America’s fractured systems: from how quickly encounters escalate, to how mental health and firearms intersect, and how celebrity status doesn't shield one from trauma or judgment.
As the LAPD investigates, the public waits not only for clarity but for accountability. Was this a case of justified response, tragic miscommunication, or something in between?
One thing is certain: the name Jillian Lauren Shriner, once known for amplifying the voices of victims, is now entangled in her own complex and deeply public tragedy.
The 51-year-old author, acclaimed for her investigative work including the haunting true crime book Behold the Monster, is now at the center of a national conversation around mental health, law enforcement tactics, and the intense scrutiny placed on public figures during moments of crisis.
A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
As officers canvassed the neighborhood, they entered the backyard of a home next to where a suspect had been spotted. There, they encountered Shriner holding a handgun, according to police.
Authorities said officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapon before one or more officers fired. It remains unclear, even with the use of body-worn cameras, whether Shriner fired her weapon or was simply holding it. The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division has launched a probe into the incident, and multiple surveillance angles are being reviewed.
Shriner fled into her house after being shot and was later taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been booked on suspicion of attempted murder, though the investigation is still in its early stages.
Lack of clarity, surge of questions
“At that point, there were some commands given multiple commands to drop the weapon,” Aguilar stated. “Unfortunately, it did result in an officer-involved shooting.”
A 9 mm handgun was later recovered from her home, police said.
What’s raising eyebrows isn’t just the shooting itself, but the murky details and ambiguity surrounding what led to the confrontation. Did Shriner mistake officers for intruders? Did she feel threatened by the sudden police presence in her backyard? Was there a miscommunication or something deeper?
Fame, fallout, and mental health
The fact that her name is now trending not for her writing, but for being shot by police, raises broader concerns about how public figures especially women with mental health histories are treated when they themselves become part of the narrative.
Neither Shriner’s manager nor a representative for Weezer has issued a public statement, and Scott Shriner has not commented.
What happens now?
For many observers, the story has shifted away from just police procedure and crime reports it’s become a reflection of America’s fractured systems: from how quickly encounters escalate, to how mental health and firearms intersect, and how celebrity status doesn't shield one from trauma or judgment.
As the LAPD investigates, the public waits not only for clarity but for accountability. Was this a case of justified response, tragic miscommunication, or something in between?
One thing is certain: the name Jillian Lauren Shriner, once known for amplifying the voices of victims, is now entangled in her own complex and deeply public tragedy.