Jillian Lauren Shriner has had a tough couple of months. In March of 2025, she underwent a hysterectomy and other necessary surgeries in her fight against cancer. Now, five weeks after an incident in her Los Angeles backyard, she finds herself both a gunshot victim and booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
Details about the case are still emerging, but it appears that on April 8, Los Angeles police officers in a neighbor's yard spotted Shriner brandishing a handgun on her property. According to the police report, Shriner ignored repeated orders to drop her firearm and was shot when she pointed it in their direction. Booked for suspicion of murder, Shriner was released after posting $1 million bail.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Writing under the name Jillian Lauren, Shriner is an author with four published books. Her memoir, "Some Girls: My Life in a Harem," recounted her time as part of the harem of Brunei Prince Jefri Bolkiah and was a bestseller in 2010. Another memoir, "Everything You Ever Wanted," achieved bestselling status in 2015. Her husband, Scott Shriner, plays bass guitar for the rock band Weezer.
On April 8, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) called for backup from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in their pursuit of three hit-and-run suspects who had fled into a residential section of Los Angeles known as Eagle Rock. After forming a perimeter, two officers responded to a reported sighting of one of the suspects in the backyard of a house.
While there, the officers encountered Shriner, who was standing in an adjacent yard and holding a 9mm handgun. According to the police report, the officers repeatedly ordered Shriner to drop the weapon, which she did not do. Alleging that she raised the gun in their direction and fired, the officers opened fire on Shriner. She was struck and retreated inside her residence with a woman working for her as a babysitter.
Shriner later emerged and was taken into custody. She was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound at a local hospital and absentee booked for suspicion of attempted murder. It was determined she had no connection with the hit-and-run incident. The LAPD caught one of the fleeing suspects.
At a press conference on April 10, the LAPD stated that they had not yet been able to find evidence showing that Shriner had discharged her weapon. Police bodycam footage taken from the officers present was inconclusive.
The Show Must Go On
Further investigation by the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will ultimately determine if Shriner will stand trial for attempted murder or a lesser charge. California doesn't have a concrete "stand-your-ground" statute, and law enforcement involvement would likely have made it moot anyway.
There's always the possibility the prosecutors will decide to drop the charges entirely if proof of her firing her weapon can't be shown, but given that Shriner allegedly ignored numerous orders to drop her firearm and pointed it at the officers, that seems unlikely. For now, Shriner is due to appear in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 30 to face felony charges.
Fans of her husband's band can heave a sigh of relief. Scott Shriner has indicated he intends to be with Weezer for their appearance as a late addition to the Coachella Music Festival. They're scheduled to appear in the afternoon on April 12, 2025.
Related Resources
- Police Body Cameras: What Defendants and Victims Need To Know (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- Castle Doctrine Overview (FindLaw's Criminal Law Basics)
- Criminal Attempt (FindLaw's Criminal Law)
