An investigation continued Wednesday into the fatal shooting of Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo, allegedly by his wife, but a decision on whether any charges will be filed in the case will be left to the District Attorney’s Office.
Levette Crespo, 43, was detained following the shooting, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the couple’s condominium in the 6300 block of Gage Avenue. She was questioned but was eventually released.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, Levette Crespo and her 45-year- old husband were involved in an argument when their 19-year-old son Daniel Jr. tried to intervene. The mayor and his son then fought, with some reports indicating the father punched his son in the face.
At that point, Levette Crespo grabbed a gun and shot her husband multiple times, sheriff’s officials said. He died en route to a hospital.
Both Levette Crespo and Daniel Jr., who was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered in the melee, were questioned but neither were placed under arrest.
A family member told the Los Angeles Times the mayor and his wife had been arguing about money.
Sheriff’s officials said the investigation would be presented to the District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether any criminal charges are warranted. Prosecutors said they had not yet received the case from investigators, and a decision on charges was not expected Wednesday.
Crespo had been a deputy probation officer for Los Angeles County for more than 20 years, according to county CEO Bill Fujioka.
He was elected to the Bell Gardens council in 2001, and elected mayor in December, 2013.
State Sen. Ricardo Lara and Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, both of Bell Gardens, jointly described Crespo as “a respected public servant who dedicated his life to protecting and helping others in southeast Los Angeles and throughout the region.”
Crespo’s city biography said he married Levette, “his high school sweetheart,” in 1986. Their eldest child, a daughter, was born the following year.
—City News Service