A California woman has been released from police custody after she reportedly shot her husband multiple times and killed him during what she says was a heated domestic dispute.
Her husband wasn't just anyone -- he was Daniel Crespo, the mayor of Bell Gardens, California, who was a probation officer for 15 years prior to holding public office. And the details surrounding his death are especially heartbreaking because they reportedly involve the couple's 19-year-old son, Daniel Jr.
Crespo and his wife, Levette Crespo, who were high school sweethearts and had been married since 1986, were at their house when the two began fighting. Daniel Jr. reportedly stepped in and tried to intervene -- at which point the mayor allegedly punched him in the face.
It isn't clear whether Levette allegedly shot her husband multiple times in the torso because he had hit their son or if something else happened that made her feel threatened. But we do know that the 43-year-old mother of two was held for questioning by police and then released. She has not been charged with a crime, though police say there is still a possibility that criminal charges will be filed after the facts of the case are presented to the DA's office.
According to the mayor's brother, William Creso, Daniel "loved [his family] more than life." His colleagues also have only good things to say about him as they offer their condolences and called his death "a shocking and tremendous loss."
None of us actually know what went on behind closed doors at the Crespo residence and whether Levette felt her life was in danger because of something that may have taken place that evening at their house. It's absolutely horrendous to think their son's last memory of his father will be of him being shot dead by his mother.
For now we'll have to wait and see if details emerge that give police reason to charge this wife with a crime.
What would have had to happen to make you believe this wife was justified in fatally shooting her husband?
Image via City of Bell Gardens