Actor Michael Jace, known for his roles on "The Shield" and in the 2009 feature film "State of Play," was formally charged Thursday with murder with a gun in connection with the shooting death of his wife, CNN reports.

"April Jace, 40, died from 'multiple gunshot wounds,' according to preliminary autopsy results. The death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County coroner, Deputy Chief Coroner Ed Winter said," CNN reports. "Jace, 51, made his first appearance in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday afternoon. Bail was set at $2 million, and his arraignment was continued until June 18 at the defense's request."

Jason Sias, Jace's attorney, commented: "He's doing as well as somebody who is in custody. It's emotional. He wants to see this through. He's just thinking about his children."

Jace was arrested early Tuesday in connection with the shooting Monday night at the couple's home in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles, as we reported previously.

"Los Angeles police detectives presented their evidence against Jace, who played a Los Angeles cop in TV's 'The Shield,' to the district attorney Thursday morning, according to spokeswoman Jane Robison," the CNN report notes.

The article adds: "Michael Jace called 911 to report that his wife had been shot, Det. Dean Vinluan said, adding that he 'was on the phone with the operator.' Neighbors who heard gunshots also called 911, he said."

The police said in a statement earlier this week that the motive is thought to be domestic violence.

"Two children were in the home when their mother was shot, Vinluan said. The children, whose ages he would not reveal, were taken to a police station and then handed over to a representative of California's Department of Children and Family Services, he said," the story reports.

The piece adds: "A woman described as a close friend of Jace's first wife said in a sworn statement that she witnessed Jace physically abusing his wife in 1997. The declaration was in court records from Jace's 2005 custody case concerning his son with Jennifer Bitterman.

"Jace 'choked and hit' his wife and 'slammed her against the wall while (their infant son) screamed in his crib next to her,' Maria De Le Vegas said in the sworn declaration obtained by CNN."