'The Shield' Actor Michael Jace Charged With Shooting Wife Dead

Michael Jace has reportedly been charged with the shooting and killing of his wife of nine years, April Jace, according to the AP. Not only is the actor alleged to have shot his wife in a domestic dispute but the killing is said to have taken place in front of the couple's two children, who are both under the age of ten.

Actor Michael Jace Has Been Charged With The Killing Of His Wife, April Jace.

It was the former star of The Shield himself who is reported to have made the call to police, saying "I shot my wife" and remained on the line until cops arrived at the scene, TMZ reports. Both of the children were taken to the police station and are said to have been extremely distressed. After a reportedly lengthy wait, the children were then taken to another family member's home by social services.

Other residents in the neighbourhood apparently reported hearing gunshots coming from within the property and informed police before Jace made his call. The actor, who has no previous criminal record, was detained by LAPD yesterday (19th May) and was booked on a homicide charge. He is being held on $1 million (£593,000) bail. He was taken in for questioning over the death and later confessed to the killing.

Michael Jace, who played a cop in "The Shield," has been charged in wife's shooting death: http://t.co/b6kxcC3DeW pic.twitter.com/mDsHAs9BaE

— CNN (@CNN) May 20, 2014

The mother-of-three's shooting took place at around 8.30pm in the LA neighbourhood, Hyde Park. Officer Chris No says police arrived at the couple's home on Monday evening after receiving a report of shots being fired. Official reports say 40-year-old April Jace was found dead inside.

The shooting remains under investigation: the LA Times reports that detectives with the 77th division are working to determine whether the incident was an accident or a homicide.

Jace famously played Detective Julien Lowe in FX's The Shield and was also a police officer in Southland.

More: Michael Jace shoots and kills wife, then calls police.