A former Bell City Councilman has been arrested on suspicion of murder hours after his wife was found shot to death in Bell on Tuesday.
Bell Police Department officers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were initially dispatched to a report of a gunshot victim at a home in the 4900 block of Weik Avenue around 6:40 a.m., authorities said.
The woman had been shot at least once in the upper torso, and was pronounced dead at the location, according to sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean. She was later identified as 81-year-old Donna Harber.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they encountered a man, 76-year-old Danny Harber, Dean said.
He was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance and arrested on suspicion of murder. Harber was being held on $2 million bail, jail records showed. A booking photo was not released.
Prior to the law enforcement identifying the couple, neighbors and others close to the case confirmed the two were married and identified the husband as the former Bell City Councilman.
One neighbor also told KTLA his wife had been ill.
Whatever the circumstances, residents said they are not passing judgment — but rather calling this a “tragedy” all around.
Former Bell Mayor Violeta Alvarez, who led the city when Danny Harber was on the council, described him as a good man and friend, and recalled the love he had for his wife.
“He was a straightforward man and he loved his wife and his family. He was always talking about looking forward to the weekend to take his wife places, they used to travel a lot,” Alvarez told KTLA. “And I know they loved each other a lot.”
She felt compelled to visit the scene of the shooting, not knowing what to expect.
“It’s a tragedy, especially when you never saw it coming. You know, they were a loving couple,” Alvarez said.
A possible motive behind the shooting has not released.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be left via Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477, through the “P3 Tips” app, or through lacrimestoppers.org.
