Developers begin cutting trees in a Tokyo park that environmentalists want to protect

TOKYO (AP) — Workers began cutting trees Monday in central Tokyo's Jingu Gaien park district to make way for a development project, a flashpoint for more than a year between environmentalists and real estate interests.

Developers led by real-estate company Mitsui Fudosan have a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar plan to build three skyscrapers on the coveted land and to raze a historical baseball stadium, replacing it with a new stadium.

A small group of protesters gathered Monday. They object to the destruction of trees in a city that lacks green space and is seeing many parks handed over to commercial interests.

The plan is backed by Tokyo Gov. Yuiko Koike, who once was Japan’s environmental minister.

A worker, right, asks Mikiko Ishikawa, a university professor who protests against tree cutting, back to camera, to move out of a cordoned area in front of the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment work, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A worker, left, asks protesters and media members to move out of a cordoned area as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest against property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment work, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Protest leader Satoru Osawa, right, a Tokyo resident, speaks as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, as property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. The banner reads, "Please don't destroy our park."(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A worker, second left, speaks with, Mikiko Ishikawa, second right, a university professor, and protest leader Satoru Osawa as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest against property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Workers are seen at the site as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, to protest property developer Mitsui Fudosan beginning cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Protest leader Satoru Osawa, tries to take a picture of the demolition work as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Mikiko Ishikawa, a university professor who protests against tree cutting stands right, as security guards stand in front of a gate of the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, where property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Protest leader Satoru Osawa, right, a Tokyo resident, speaks as environmentalists hold a rally near the Jingu Gaien park district of central Tokyo, Japan, as property developer Mitsui Fudosan begins cutting trees as part of the redevelopment of the area, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Investigators were questioning a family member of director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele after they were found dead at their home in Los Angeles, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds, said the official, who could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Los Angeles Police had not identified a suspect, Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, the chief of detectives, said at a briefing on Sunday night.

“We are going to try to speak to every family member that we can to get to the facts of this investigation,” Hamilton said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in Norman Lear's 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” as a liberal foil to O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.

Relatives of Lear, the legendary producer who died in 2023, said the deaths left them bereft.

“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”

Messages to Reiner's representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it a devastating loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.

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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton speaks near Rob Reiner's residence Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

FILE - Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner, Dec. 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

FILE - Rob Reiner arrives at the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network's Respect Awards, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

A police officer blocks off a street near Rob Reiner's residence Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

FILE - Honoree Rob Reiner, second left, poses with his wife Michele, left, and children Nick, center, Romy, and Jake at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Avery Fisher Hall, April 28, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)