An off-duty Glendale firefighter was arrested Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, after a woman was found dead inside a home in North Hollywood, authorities said.
Los Angeles police responded to the 5600 block of Satsuma Avenue about 4:25 a.m. and found the woman’s body inside, LAPD spokeswoman Officer Rosario Cervantes said.
The man flagged down a police unit and asked them to do a welfare check on his wife. He was identified by police as Andrew Jimenez, 45, of North Hollywood.
Glendale city officials confirmed Jimenez is a member of the Glendale Fire Department, a firefighter and paramedic who has been with the department since 2008. Jimenez was placed off duty and on administrative leave effective immediately, the city announced.
Once at the home, which sits just north of Burbank Boulevard, police found a bloody scene and investigators believe the woman was bludgeoned to death with an axe, Fox Los Angeles reported.
Police said the woman was found with blunt force trauma injuries.
The victim was identified as Jimenez‘s wife, Mayra Jimenez, 55, by LAPD. Police described the death as domestic violence related and said there is no threat to public safety.
Jimenez was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail.
“The Glendale Fire Department has been notified by the Los Angeles Police Department that an off-duty member of the department has been detained in connection with an active homicide investigation in the North Hollywood area,” a city manager statement said. “LAPD is the lead investigating agency and the matter is ongoing.”
“Our condolences are with the victim’s family and loved ones,” Glendale Fire Chief Jeff Brooks said in a statement. “We are prepared to support those impacted by this tragedy, and we are also ensuring our firefighters and staff have access to support resources as they process this loss.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
