Michael Jace, best known for his role on FX's police drama The Shield, has pled not guilty to murdering his wife, CBS News reports. He appeared in court in L.A. for an arraignment on Wednesday, June 18.
Jace, 51, is accused of fatally shooting wife April Jace, 40 at the time of her death, on May 19 at their home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of L.A. He was detained for questioning at the time and booked on a homicide charge early the next morning.
According to CNN, Jace called 911 to say his wife had been shot. Los Angeles police detective Dean Vinluan told CBS News that printouts of the incident history indicated he also admitted to the shooting. Neighbors heard gunshots, too, and called the police; prior to that, there had been no previous reports of domestic violence at the Jace household.
A motive for the shooting has not been released, but an LAPD spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times after April's death that it appeared "to have started as a domestic-related incident." CBS noted in an earlier report that the Southland actor had also been dealing with financial problems.
Jace and his wife had two young boys together; April was also mom to an older son from a previous relationship.