How Jillian Lauren, True Crime Author and Wife of Weezer's Bassist, Landed at the Center of an LAPD Shootout

Jillian Lauren is an accomplished true-crime writer who became the subject of her own specialty when she was involved in a shootout with police.

She thought the cops were criminals prowling the area; they thought their commands to drop her weapon were clear enough. What is clear is that the incident changed the perception of Lauren’s seemingly enviable life with a rock star.

Before she married Weezer bassist Scott Shriner in 2005, the New Yorker by way of Chicago—with a lengthy stop in New Jersey—dropped out of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts at 18. She worked as a topless dancer and escort. The latter job led to an invitation to entertain a wealthy businessman in Singapore who turned out to be Prince Jefri Bolkiah, brother of the Sultan of Brunei. What began as a two-week engagement evolved into an 18-month commitment. Lauren was part of a harem in the early ‘90s consisting of approximately 25 women from all over the world.

Lauren eventually returned to the U.S. and wrote about her experience. Her memoir, Some Girls: My Life in a Harem, became a New York Times Best Seller. By the time the book was released, she was already married to Shriner, and together they adopted two kids.

During the following years, three more books by Lauren were published, including Behold the Monster: Confronting America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer, a profile of Samuel Little. 

On April 8, 2025, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) called the Los Angeles Police Department for backup. Three men had fled the scene of a hit-and-run accident in L.A.’s Eagle Rock neighborhood, and CHP asked for LAPD support in their search. One suspect was seen passing through various properties. Lauren stepped out of her home and into the backyard, ready to defend her life and property. 

She walked the perimeter of the house, searching for the invader. She was holding a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol. A CHP officer and two LAPD cops saw her and repeatedly yelled, “Put down that gun.” One officer said, “Oh, she racked it,” which is gun parlance for pulling the slide and prepping to shoot. Lauren fired one round, then a hail of bullets began. She was shot in the arm. 

Lauren calmly retreated into her house. About an hour later, heeding police commands, she stepped out and surrendered in the middle of the street. She was booked for attempted murder of a peace officer.

Lauren’s next-door neighbor called 911 as the incident unfolded: “She [Lauren] says there were three men, and one of them shot her, and the cops are looking for him right now. They have their guns out.” 

Jillian was heard in the background recalling what happened, saying, “I had my gun and he said ‘Put down that gun. Put down that gun.’ I said, ‘Put down your f------ gun.’ And then he shot me.” 

Lauren and her neighbor thought the cops were the suspects, perhaps because at the beginning of the standoff, the officers did not identify themselves. They were also looking over a high fence, so Lauren could not see them in uniform. Additionally, a helicopter was whirring above, making communication difficult. 

LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell declared the officers involved were justified in their use of force. However, the police commission overruled his finding, stating that the officers did not follow policy and made serious tactical mistakes.

The attempted murder charge was reduced to discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and assault with a semi-automatic firearm; Lauren pleaded not guilty. In September 2025, a judge determined Lauren was eligible for a mental-health diversion program in lieu of prison time. Part of the conditions include no illicit drug or alcohol use, participating in weekly therapy sessions, undergoing random drug and alcohol testing, attending Alcoholics Anonymous and not owning any guns or knives. If she complies with the requirements, all charges will be dropped.

On December 2, 2025, Lauren filed for divorce from Shriner, citing irreconcilable differences. She told Rolling Stone that they had been growing apart for years, and the police incident pushed everything to a crisis point. "He's still my best friend. We still have beautiful kids together and have always really supported each other in our various transformations,” she said. "You hope you'll change and grow together. We grew apart.”