Who is Jillian Lauren? Wife of Weezer Bassist Scott Shriner Shot by Police

Jillian Lauren, a bestselling author and the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was shot by Los Angeles police and later booked for attempted murder following a chaotic police chase that spilled into her Eagle Rock neighborhood earlier this week.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said Lauren emerged from her home with a handgun during an active search for suspects involved in a freeway hit-and-run. After allegedly refusing to comply with commands to drop the weapon and pointing it at officers, police opened fire, striking her in the shoulder.

Though initially taken into custody and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, Lauren was later booked in absentia for attempted murder. She was not involved in the original hit-and-run incident that triggered the police response, according to law enforcement authorities.

The Context

Beyond her marriage to a member of a major rock band, Lauren is known for her candid memoirs and work as a true crime writer.

The incident comes as Weezer, a Los Angeles rock band with a storied career dating back to their 1994 breakthrough “Blue Album,” is scheduled to perform at the Coachella music festival this weekend.

What to Know

The events unfolded Monday afternoon after California Highway Patrol officers responded to a three-car hit-and-run on the 134 Freeway and requested backup from the LAPD. At least one suspect fled the crash scene on foot, entering the residential Eagle Rock area. Officers established a perimeter to track down the individuals, two of whom remain at large.

One suspect reportedly removed clothing in an attempt to blend into the neighborhood, but police say they tracked him to the vicinity of the Shriner residence. It was then, LAPD officials said, that Lauren exited her home with a 9mm handgun.

“Officers ordered her to drop the handgun numerous times; however, she refused,” the LAPD said in a press release. The statement continued, “She pointed the gun at officers – which is when they fired on her.”

Lauren retreated into her home but emerged approximately 30 minutes later with a woman later identified as the family’s babysitter. Both surrendered peacefully. Lauren was treated at a hospital before being absentee booked for attempted murder, according to TMZ.

Authorities say a handgun was recovered from the home. There is no indication Lauren was connected to the hit-and-run incident that initiated the police presence.

Who is Jillian Lauren?

Lauren, 51, has written two acclaimed memoirs: Some Girls: My Life in a Harem (2010) and Everything You Ever Wanted (2015). In the former, she recounts her time as a member of a harem maintained by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei in the 1990s. The memoir drew widespread media attention for its unfiltered look into a secretive world of wealth, control, and exploitation.

Her second book chronicles her experience adopting a child from Ethiopia and grappling with motherhood and trauma. She is also known for her true crime reporting and was prominently involved in investigating the life of serial killer Samuel Little, the most prolific serial murderer in U.S. history.

Lauren married Shriner in 2005. The couple has two children and reside in the Los Angeles area.

What’s Next

Lauren was released from physical custody following treatment but remains under investigation. Her legal status could evolve as prosecutors determine whether to formally charge her and on what grounds. The LAPD has not disclosed whether any video of the incident exists or when it might be released.

Weezer has not issued a public statement regarding the shooting. The band is scheduled to perform at Coachella, though it remains unclear whether Shriner will appear.