Memorial held for Bell Gardens mayor shot by wife

WHITTIER, Calif. (KABC) -- A public memorial service was held for slain Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo in Whittier Monday night.

Crespo, 45, was allegedly shot and killed by his wife, Lyvette Crespo, during a family fight in their home on Sept. 30. No charges have been filed in the case.

A steady stream of mourners turned out for the service which was held at Rose Hills Memorial Chapel.

"He was a nice person with the people in the community," Crespo's friend Jannette Morales said. "He helped other people. I pray for him. I want to hold his hand and say, 'bye my friend.'"

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lt. Steve Jauch says the mayor got into an argument with his wife, and their 19-year-old son tried to intervene.

Daniel Crespo and his son, Daniel Crespo, Jr., began fighting. That's when Lyvette Crespo got a gun and shot her husband several times in the torso. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was shortly pronounced dead.

The Crespo's 19-year-old son, Daniel Crespo Jr., told a 911 operator his mother fatally shot his father in self-defense.

"It wasn't my mom's fault. She was defending herself," he said.

A lawyer for Lyvette Crespo says she was a "battered wife," and that the family was living a secret life of torment. Investigators are looking into those allegations.

Daniel and Lyvette Crespo had been a couple since high school and were married for 28 years.

Crespo had been a county deputy probation officer for the past 15 years. He was elected to the City Council in 2001.

A private service for family and invited guests is scheduled for Tuesday.