In a wild and unexpected twist out of LA, Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife, Jillian Lauren, was shot by police on Monday afternoon and later booked for attempted murder.
According to the LAPD, officers were assisting with a hit-and-run investigation around 3:25pm when the situation spiralled in the Eagle Rock neighbourhood. A suspect reportedly fled from a three-car collision on the nearby 134 freeway, prompting authorities to set up a perimeter in the area.
That’s when police say Lauren, 51, walked out of her home holding a handgun. Officers claim they ordered her multiple times to drop the weapon. She then allegedly pointed the gun at them, and they opened fire.
Lauren was hit but managed to retreat inside her home. She came back out soon after, accompanied by a second woman identified as her babysitter. Both were taken into custody. Police later confirmed that Lauren had no link to the original hit-and-run.
She was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and released from the hospital. Despite not being directly involved in the initial case, she was absentee booked for attempted murder following the encounter with police.
Lauren, an author and former member of the Hollywood scene, married Shriner in 2005. He joined Weezer two years later and has remained the band’s bassist ever since.
At the time of writing, Shriner has not yet commented on the incident. The band is still scheduled to perform at Coachella this weekend after recently being announced alongside Ed Sheeran. There, they will be a part of a stacked lineup alongside other major alt and rock acts.
The LAPD say the investigation is ongoing, with body cam footage and further details likely to surface in the coming days.
It’s a grim turn of events involving someone closely tied to one of the most enduring names in modern rock. It’s also a stark reminder that even peripheral fame doesn’t shield anyone from the chaos of real life.
