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An armed security guard was shot outside the home where Jacqueline Avant, wife of music legend Clarence Avant, was shot and killed early Wednesday.

Jacqueline, 81, was fatally shot by a gunman who forced his way into the couple’s Beverly Hills area mansion. Clarence Avant, 90, was at home but wasn’t harmed, a source tells TMZ.

The security guard who was stationed outside the home was shot and wounded. He did not return fire, police say.

Beverly Hills police responded to a 911 call from the residence around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in the upscale Truesdale estates.

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They found Mrs. Avant suffering from a single gunshot wound inside the residence. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that morning.

Police found a broken glass door at the rear of the mansion. They believe the home invaders targeted the elderly couple whose mansion is valued at $7 million.

Various upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods have been plagued by a string of “follow-home” robberies.

BACKGRID

Former BET host and actor Terrence “J” Jenkins, 39, was followed on his way home to his Sherman Oaks neighborhood by someone in an SUV who opened fire at his car around 3 a.m. on November 10. He managed to escape with his life.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore announced that a police task force has been created to apprehend “follow-home” robbers.

California is also plagued by crowbar-wielding smash-and-grab burglars who invade high end stores such as Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom.