'Shield' star Michael Jace charged with murder in wife's shooting death

close

Video

'The Shield' star Michael Jace charged with killing wife

Heather Childers reports from New York

Actor Michael Jace, best known for playing a gay cop on the FX series "The Shield," was charged by police with murder Tuesday in the shooting death of his wife, April, in their Los Angeles home.

"I shot my wife," Jace told police after calling 911 Monday night, TMZ reported. He stayed on the line until police arrived, according to reports.

April Jace, 40, was found dead in their south Los Angeles home at about 8:30 p.m. by police and medics who responded, Los Angeles Police Detective Lyman Doster said. Jace, 51, who had small roles in "Forrest Gump" and the 2009 film "State of Play," starring Russell Crowe, was taken to LA's 77th Precinct for questioning and was being held on $1 million bail.

LAPD officials listed the motive as simply domestic violence. It was the second marriage for Jace. He and April, a public school teacher, had been married nine years. LAPD Lt. John Jenal told the Los Angeles Daily News two children were present in the home at the time of the shooting. They were in protective custody this morning, he said.

Coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said April's body had been removed from the home and an autopsy would not be performed until Wednesday at the earliest.

"He was a very cool guy, and always very cordial," said Chester Taylor, a 72-year-old retired engineer who lives across the street from the crime scene.

Taylor said Jace and his wife moved into the neighborhood about five years ago, and that he frequently saw the 6-4 actor walking his German Shepherd. Taylor said he recognized his new neighbor from "The Shield."

"I knew he had a resume, but I didn't bother him about it," Taylor said. "He and his wife just seemed like a nice couple.

"It's really a shame about the two boys," he added. "And I don't know what'll become of that dog."

Records show Jace filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2011, listing debts between $500,000 and $1 million.

In a statement of his assets, Jace checked off a box indicating he didn't own any firearms.

In "The Shield," Jace, a native of Paterson, N.J., played Police Officer Julien Lowe, beginning as a rookie officer thrust into a corruption-riddled inner-city Los Angeles police precinct. He appeared in 89 episodes, starting in 2002, and his character rose to detective before the series ended in 2008. Jace also appeared in several episodes of the police drama "Southland" after his run on "The Shield."

Jace played NBA great Michael Jordan in the 1999 TV movie "Michael Jordan: An American Hero."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.