With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
9-1-1 Call From Bell Gardens Mayor's Shooting Released: 'It Wasn't My Mom's Fault'
The 9-1-1 call that the son of Mayor Daniel Crespo made after the mayor was fatally shothas been released.The mayor's longtime wife Lyvette Crespo allegedly shot and killed her husband after their 19-year-old son Daniel Crespo, Jr. intervened in a fight between the couple. Lyvette apparently went to get a gun when the mayor began punching their son. NBC Los Angeles posted the audio of the 9-1-1 call made after the shooting, and here's a transcript:
Crespo Jr.: "My parents got in an argument and there were shots fired."
Dispatcher: "Ok, where is your friend, the one that got shot, where is he at?"
Crespo Jr.: "It's my father, he's in the house, okay, it wasn't my mom's fault."
Dispatcher: "Okay."
Crespo Jr.: "She was defending herself."
----
Crespo Jr.: "She's upstairs, she's crying.
Dispatcher: "That's fine, where is the gun?"
Crespo Jr.: "The gun is on the floor upstairs. Please get here."
Several sources, including friends and the attorneys for both Lyvette and her children, have said or hinted that Crespo was abusive. The family says they're cooperating with police in the investigation, and so far no arrests have been made. Claudia Osuna, the attorney for children Daniel Jr. and Crystal, told NBC Los Angeles, "Right now the children stand behind their mother, they are grieving the loss of their father and they will cooperate—specifically Daniel will cooperate, with law enforcement."
Daniel Crespo's brother William, however, wasn't so sympathetic to the family's self-defense story: "If it was that, she should've called 911. She shouldn't take matters into her own hands. She's not the cops." But he added, "I love her; I still love her. She's still my sister-in-law; I'm always going to love her."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
-
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails.
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight.
-
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious.
-
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress.
-
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.