MAN CONVICTED IN ROAD-RAGE KILLING OF LA DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER
San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Aug. 27, 2006
A former Burbank truck driver who was arrested in Armenia and returned
to Southern California was convicted of first-degree murder for a
vicious freeway road-rage killing of documentary filmmaker Michael
Craven.
Jurors deliberated for more than two hours Friday before reaching
a decision. They also convicted Shahen Eghia Keshishian, 34, of
vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and leaving the scene
of an accident.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 27.
Keshishian ran down Craven, 44, with a black GMC Suburban on April
29, 2000. The killing came after a road rage confrontation along the
Hollywood Freeway.
Craven had been driving on the freeway after dinner with a friend
when the Suburban pulled up and eggs were thrown. One of the drivers
had apparently cut in front of the other.
Authorities believe Craven pulled to the side of the freeway to
confront Keshishian, who stopped behind him. A passenger in the
Suburban then threw a beer bottle at Craven’s Jeep.
Craven was then run over and he died a short time later at a hospital.
Keshishian was charged June 23, 2000, with Craven’s slaying, and
charged separately by federal authorities in November 2000 with
unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Keshishian was hiding in Armenia and was arrested in late 2004 for
overstaying his visa. He was subsequently extradited to the United
States.
Glendale police said his extradition marked the first time someone
from Armenia was handed to U.S. authorities to be returned to face
criminal charges.