April Jace

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.

April Jace
April Jace running in the 2014 Southern California Indoor Meet
Born
April Denise Laune

(1974-05-06)May 6, 1974
Hawthorne, California, United States
DiedMay 19, 2014(2014-05-19) (aged 40)
Hyde Park, Los Angeles, California, United States
Cause of deathMurder (gunshot wound)
Alma materCalifornia State University, Fullerton
OccupationMasters track and field athlete
Spouse(s)Michael Jace (married 2003–2014)
Children3

Early life

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

Athletic career

She 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] She 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

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

Death and aftermath

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 at Centinela, in Imperial County.[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]

She 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.[3][9] 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]

References
  1. Lanfreschi, Anna (21 May 2014). "Who is actor Michael Jace?". HLN. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. "39th Annual Striders Meet of Champions - 4/28/2012 Cerritos College Results". Southern California Striders. 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. Lloyd, Jonathan and Jason Kandel (23 May 2014). ""The Shield" Actor Michael Jace Charged With Murder in Wife's Shooting Death". NBC 4 Southern California. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. "USATF SoCal Masters Championships Online @ Raiders.LiveTrackResults.com - 6/29/2013 Cal Tech Results". Southern California Striders. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  5. "Unattached - Athletes - April Jace". RunnerSpace.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  6. "2011 Outdoor Rankings Results for APRIL JACE, USA - Age 40". mastersrankings.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  7. "2011 WMA Outdoor Championships Sacramento, CA - 7/6/2011 to 7/17/2011 Results". World Masters Athletics. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  8. Tate, Amethyst (20 May 2014). "Who Is April Jace? 'The Shield' Actor Michael Jace Arrested For Allegedly Shooting Wife During Argument". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. Staff (20 May 2014). "'Shield' actor Michael Jace accused of domestic violence in divorce". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  10. Staff (20 May 2014). "Actor Michael Jace arrested over fatal shooting of wife April Jace at home in Los Angeles". CBS News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  11. Duke, Alan (22 May 2014). "'Shield' actor Michael Jace officially charged with wife's murder". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  12. "Michael Jace found guilty of second-degree murder". The Chimes | Biola University. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  13. "Michael Jace told wife to 'run to heaven' after killing her: DA". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  14. Lara, Jovana; ABC7.com staff (May 31, 2016). "Former 'Shield' actor Michael Jace found guilty of wife's murder". ABC7 Los Angeles. ABC Inc. Associated Press. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  15. Myers, Amanda Lee (June 11, 2016). "'Shield' actor gets 40 years to life in wife's killing". CTV News. Bell Media. Associated Press.
  16. "Family of Michael Jace's wife calls death 'senseless'". Fox News. Associate Press. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  17. April Jace Memorial Service Information Archived June 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine at Oasis Church
  18. "Michael Jace -- Dead Wife's Family Seeks Money -- We Need Help Burying April". TMZ. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  19. "LAPD hacks into locked iPhone of actor Michael Jace's slain wife". Daily News. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  20. Drum, Dayna Drum & Grace Gibney (21 May 2014). "April Jace lovingly remembered in wake of tragic death". Biola University Chimes. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  21. Lloyd, Jonathan (20 May 2014). "Co-Workers Mourn School Counselor Killed in Shooting at "Shield" Actor's Home". NBC 4 Southern California. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  22. "Photos: April Jace memorial at Biola University". Whittier Daily News. 20 May 2014.
  23. "Biola University Scholarships - April Jace Memorial Scholarship". biola.academicworks.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
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