$75K Reward Offered to Find Killer of Reality Show Director

Two men and a woman are believed to have been involved in the deadly attack

A $75,000 reward was posted Monday in the deadly home-invasion shooting of a director who worked on the reality TV show “America’s Next Top Model,” police said.

Investigators said they have exhausted all possible leads and are asking for the public’s help to find the two men who burst into James Marcus Howe’s home in Los Angeles, killing the 42-year-old father and husband the day before Thanksgiving.

Howe and his wife were at their Glassell Park home the morning of Nov. 27 when someone knocked on the door posing as a lone salesman, Los Angeles police said. When the couple answered the door, two men – believed to be between 20 and 25 years old – forced their way inside.

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A fight ensued and one of the men pulled out a gun and opened fire, fatally striking Howe. The director’s wife was also struck by gunfire, but survived and is now struggling to cope while raising their 6-year-old son alone.

"I'm kind of going through grief and denial," said Alicia Shoemaker, the victim's sister-in-law. "The whole entire thing is unbelievable to me."

A woman is believed to have been driving the get-away car, described as a dark green, convertible Ford Mustang with a tan top, police said. The car is believed to be between model years 1994 and 2004.

Howe worked as a second-unit director for a season on "America's Next Top Model," and was also the second-unit director of the reality show "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila."

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Detectives said they're at a loss for what motivated the deadly crime. Loved ones and law enforcement hope the newly posted $75,000 reward will help solve the case.

"It's a horrible tragedy we can't undo, but we can make sure justice prevails," LA City Councilman Jose Huizar said at a news conference Monday.

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to formally approve the reward at its meeting Tuesday.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Detective Aguilar or Officer Watterson at 323-344-5744.

Anonymous tips can be reported by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, by texting the tip preceded by the letters “LAPD” to CRIMES (274637), or by visiting LAPDonline.org and clicking on “webtips.”

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