April Jace Explained

April Jace
Birth Name:April Denise Laune
Birth Date:6 May 1974
Birth Place:Hawthorne, California, United States
Death Place:Hyde Park, Los Angeles, California, United States
Death Cause:Murder (gunshot wound)
Alma Mater:California State University, Fullerton
Occupation:Masters track and field athlete
Children:3

April Jace (born April Denise Laune; May 6, 1974 – May 19, 2014)[1] was an American masters track and field athlete who ran in sprinting competitions. She was the 2011 world champion in the women's over-35 4 × 100 meters relay.

Early life

April Laune attended Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, California. She attended college at California State University, Fullerton.

Athletic career

Jace ran with the Elite Health team and later with the Trojan Masters Club.[2] [3] She was the 2013 Southern California USATF W35 champion at 100 meters.[4] Jace finished second in the W35 Invitational race at the Mt. SAC Relays behind only American record holder Joy Upshaw.[5] She was ranked as high as number 5 in the United States[6] and was a 2011 World Championship finalist individually in the 100 meters and won a gold medal on the USA 4×100 meters relay team.[7]

Personal life

Jace was the wife of actor Michael Jace. The couple were married for ten years and have two sons.[8]

Murder and trial

Late in the evening on May 19, 2014, police were called to the couple's address in the 5400 block of Brynhurst Avenue, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, where April was found shot to death.[9] Michael was taken into custody the following day on suspicion of homicide;[10] on May 22, he was charged with murder.[11]

In the trial, based on detective interviews,[12] Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef said "April Jace was an avid runner and the actor shot her in the legs because he wanted her to feel pain."

Later, Mokayef attributed another quote to her husband, "You like to run so much, why don't you try running to heaven."[13]

On May 31, 2016, a jury convicted Michael of second-degree murder in the shooting death of April.[14] On June 10, 2016, he was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. He is incarcerated at the California State Prison, Corcoran at Corcoran, California.[15]

April's family released a statement to the Associated Press calling her shooting "a senseless act of domestic violence."[16] Her memorial was held at the Oasis Church in Los Angeles, California.[17] A GoFundMe page was created in support of her three children (aged 5, 8, and 18 at the time of her death).[18]

Jace had previously worked for the LAUSD and was "a well- liked financial aid counselor"[19] in Biola University's Financial Aid department at the time of her death. The office was closed in her memory, and the Director hailed her work ethic and service to the university's students.[20] [21] A memorial was held at the university's Calvary Chapel.[22] Biola University has set up a Memorial Scholarship in her name.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Lanfreschi . Anna . Who is actor Michael Jace? . 29 May 2014 . . 21 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521145105/http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/05/20/michael-jace-april-jace-shield-actor-wife-dead-arrest . 21 May 2014 . live .
  2. News: 39th Annual Striders Meet of Champions - 4/28/2012 Cerritos College Results . 29 May 2014 . . 28 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131031234718/http://www.scstriders.org/meets/2012MOC-results.php . 31 October 2013 . dead .
  3. News: Lloyd . Jonathan and Jason Kandel . "The Shield" Actor Michael Jace Charged With Murder in Wife's Shooting Death . 29 May 2014 . . 23 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140522161103/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/The-Shield-Actor-Michael-Jace-Arraignment-Shooting-Wife-April-Jace-260258201.html . 22 May 2014 . live .
  4. News: USATF SoCal Masters Championships Online @ Raiders.LiveTrackResults.com - 6/29/2013 Cal Tech Results . 29 May 2014 . . 29 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521130620/http://scausatf.org/events/masters_tf/2013_SCA_Masters_Results.htm . 21 May 2014 . dead .
  5. News: Unattached - Athletes - April Jace. RunnerSpace.com. 2018-02-13.
  6. News: 2011 Outdoor Rankings Results for APRIL JACE, USA - Age 40 . 29 May 2014 . mastersrankings.com . 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521150118/http://mastersrankings.com/indresults.php?season=Outdoor&year=2011&nameno=USA32479827APRILJACE&country=USA . 21 May 2014 . dead .
  7. News: 2011 WMA Outdoor Championships Sacramento, CA - 7/6/2011 to 7/17/2011 Results . 29 May 2014 . . 10 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131207031852/http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/files/results/sacramento/women.htm . 7 December 2013 . dead .
  8. News: Tate . Amethyst . Who Is April Jace? 'The Shield' Actor Michael Jace Arrested For Allegedly Shooting Wife During Argument . 29 May 2014 . . 20 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140523044742/http://www.ibtimes.com/who-april-jace-shield-actor-michael-jace-arrested-allegedly-shooting-wife-during-argument-1587347 . 23 May 2014 . live .
  9. News: Staff . 'Shield' actor Michael Jace accused of domestic violence in divorce . 29 May 2014 . . 20 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521002301/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shield-actor-michael-jace-domestic-violence-accusations-20140520-story.html . 21 May 2014 . live .
  10. News: Staff . Actor Michael Jace arrested over fatal shooting of wife April Jace at home in Los Angeles . 29 May 2014 . . 20 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031629/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-michael-jace-held-over-fatal-shooting-of-wife-april-jace-in-los-angeles/ . 21 May 2014 . live .
  11. News: Duke . Alan . 'Shield' actor Michael Jace officially charged with wife's murder . 29 May 2014 . . 22 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140523040044/http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/22/showbiz/shield-actor-michael-jace-homicide-charge/ . 23 May 2014 . live .
  12. Web site: Michael Jace found guilty of second-degree murder. The Chimes Biola University. 31 May 2016 . en. 2018-02-13.
  13. News: Michael Jace told wife to 'run to heaven' after killing her: DA. NY Daily News. 2018-02-13. en.
  14. News: Lara. Jovana. ABC7.com staff. Former 'Shield' actor Michael Jace found guilty of wife's murder. ABC7 Los Angeles. Associated Press. ABC Inc.. May 31, 2016. May 31, 2016.
  15. News: Myers . Amanda Lee . 'Shield' actor gets 40 years to life in wife's killing. Bell Media . Associated Press . CTV News . June 11, 2016.
  16. News: Family of Michael Jace's wife calls death 'senseless' . Associated Press . Fox News . 30 May 2014 . 5 June 2014.
  17. http://www.oasisla.org/jace-memorial-service/ April Jace Memorial Service Information
  18. News: Michael Jace -- Dead Wife's Family Seeks Money -- We Need Help Burying April. TMZ. 2018-02-13.
  19. News: LAPD hacks into locked iPhone of actor Michael Jace's slain wife. 2016-05-05. Daily News. 2018-02-13. en-US.
  20. News: Drum . Dayna Drum & Grace Gibney . April Jace lovingly remembered in wake of tragic death . 29 May 2014 . . 21 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140523064257/http://chimes.biola.edu/story/2014/may/21/april-jace-lovingly-remembered-wake-tragic-death/ . 23 May 2014 . live .
  21. News: Lloyd . Jonathan . Co-Workers Mourn School Counselor Killed in Shooting at "Shield" Actor's Home . 29 May 2014 . . 20 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521125213/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/April-Michael-Jace-Shooting-LAPD-Actor-Arrest-Biola-University-259982131.html . 21 May 2014 . live .
  22. News: Photos: April Jace memorial at Biola University . Whittier Daily News . 20 May 2014.
  23. Web site: Biola University Scholarships - April Jace Memorial Scholarship. biola.academicworks.com. en. 2018-02-13.