Watch CBS News

Mayor Of Suburban Los Angeles City Killed

BELL GARDENS, Calif. (AP) — The mayor of a Los Angeles suburb was shot to death Tuesday during an argument with his wife, who was taken into custody, authorities said.

Daniel Crespo, 45, was pronounced dead at a hospital, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Crystal Hernandez said.

Paramedics were called to a Bell Gardens condominium shortly after 2:30 p.m. Crespo and his wife, 43-year-old Levette Crespo, had gotten into an argument, Hernandez said. Their son, Daniel Jr., 19, tried to intervene and Crespo got into a struggle with him, she said.

His wife got a gun and shot Crespo several times in the torso, Hernandez said.

She was detained for questioning, Hernandez said.

Crespo and his wife were high school sweethearts who married in 1986. They met in New York, according to a biography on the city's website.

Bell Gardens, a suburb of about 43,000, is located about 18 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Crespo was elected to the City Council in 2001. The council is a part-time job and members take turns serving as mayor.

Crespo has been a county deputy probation officer for 15 years, according to the website.

However, county CEO Bill Fujioka stated in a Twitter posting that Crespo had more than 21 years with the probation department.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.