Bell Gardens mayor's son says mom acted in self-defense

BELL GARDENS, Calif. (KABC) -- Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo's son told a 911 operator his mother fatally shot his father in self-defense. The emotional two-minute phone call, which was made minutes after the apparent domestic dispute, was released to the media Tuesday.

Daniel Crespo Jr. can be heard screaming, wailing and pleading for help.

"Hi, I have to report an emergency. My parents got into an argument and there were shots fired," he struggles to tell the 911 dispatcher.

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

"So your mom shot your father, is that what you're saying," the dispatcher asks him, and he responds, "Yes."

"He hurt me, he's on the floor dying. OK. He hurt me," he says.

The 911 call was made around 2:30 p.m on Sept. 30 after the 45-year-old mayor was shot multiple times by his wife, Lyvette.

Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators say there was a struggle inside the family home. Lyvette and Daniel Crespo were allegedly involved in an argument.

When Daniel Crespo Jr., 19, tried to intervene, the son and mayor then fought, and the mayor allegedly punched his son in the face. That's when Lyvette grabbed a gun and shot her husband multiple times. She was questioned but was not arrested.

The couple were high school sweethearts and had been married for 28 years. Homicide detectives are now looking into whether there was a history of domestic violence in the household.

Sheriff's officials said they would complete their investigation and then present the case to the District Attorney's Office, which will decide if any criminal charges are warranted.