An 80-year-old woman was shot and killed in the Bell home of a former council member, police said Tuesday.
The shooting happened in the home in the 4900 block of Weik Avenue in Bell at 6:58 a.m.
A man believed to be her husband was taken into custody for questioning.
“Upon responding to location, they made contact with a male, white, approximately 75-80 years of age at the location,” Lt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
While Bell police would not name the victim or man, police confirmed the home belonged to a former council member who served between 2011-2013.
“Such horrible news for the community,” said Violeta Alvarez, former Bell City Council Member. “It could not be possible. It could not be possible for someone who always expresses so much love for his wife.”
Friends and neighbors say the descriptions of the victim and of the person taken in for questioning match those of the husband and wife who lived in the home.
Alvarez said Danny Harber, former city council member for the city of Bell, lives in this home with his wife, Donna.
“As former mayor of Bell, I worked with Danny for many years. I know him well. I know his family. It’s very sad, very tragic to hear what occurred,” said Nestor Valencia, also a former Bell City Council Member.
Nestor Valencia, Danny Harber and Violeta Alvarez were part of the new crop of 2010 Bell city council-members who were elected in the wake of the city’s corruption scandal. The two men became close friends.
“I know he had been very saddened and frustrated with the mental health of his wife which includes dementia,” Valencia said.
Valencia says he doesn’t know if that played a role in what occurred at the Harber home this morning, but he urges anyone caring for a loved one with dementia to seek professional help.
“Unfortunately in mental health, it’s not only the patients that suffer but it’s also their immediate family,” he said.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
Be First to Comment