ARREST IN SLAYING OF ARMENIAN MAN
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 18 2007

NORTH HOLLYWOOD – An 18-year-old man was in custody today in connection
with a confrontation last month that led to the slaying of an Armenian
man in a street gunbattle, police said.

The identity of the suspect was not immediately released and the
motive for the confrontation has not been determined.

Several other unidentified males, ages 17 to 22, also were being
questioned today about their roles in the death of Marat Manukyan, 18,
who was shot in the 13100 block of Raymer Street in North Hollywood,
said Los Angeles Police Lt. Andy Neiman, who supervises North Hollywood
detectives.

Members of the Eurasian Organized Crime task force – comprised of
federal, state and local investigators – were called to assist North
Hollywood detectives in the investigation.

"At this point we’re not quite sure what incited this fight," said
Neiman. "At this point it’s an isolated murder. It doesn’t appear to
be connected with anything major that we’ve seen yet."

Officers from Los Angeles Police Department’s elite Metro unit fanned
out before dawn today to serve search warrants at six locations
stretching from Van Nuys to Glendale.

At one house in the 6400 block of Matilija Avenue in Van Nuys, police
used flash-bang grenades to try to flush out one man. Paramedics were
on standby in case anyone was injured.

Police cleared the house but found no suspect. They located him later
at a friend’s house blocks away, police said.

Police have not released the name of the man – described as a "person
of interest" – but Hagop Avsharyan, 46, was identified as his father.

Avsharyan said today that police were looking for his son in connection
with a fight at a coffee shop. He said his son’s friends were fighting
but he didn’t know any more details.

He said police had a warrant to search his home and wanted to question
his son, but police didn’t say what the warrant was for.

"I think they are looking for some information from my son," said
Avsharyan, who had been outside his home for several hours while
police searched his home.

"But I think they (were) supposed to call him and ask him to come to
(the) station. I don’t know why they come like this in the middle of
the night and put everybody out, put the gas in the house."

Police also evacuated neighbors on Matilija Avenue as a precaution.

Rafael Grigoryan, 23, said he was forced out of his home and heard
20 shots as police fired flash-bang grenades into his neighbor’s home.

"They said, ‘Come out with your hands up,’" said Grigoryan as he stood
outside his home and police clad in flak vests gathered in the street.

Grigoryan said police briefly detained him and took some information
before releasing him.

Police served the warrants three weeks after Manukyan was killed.

Neiman said Manukyan and some acquaintances had argued with another
group at a Starbucks on Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Victory Boulevard
in North Hollywood.

Neiman said the group continued its dispute later at 13100 Raymer,
a dark and isolated spot near railroad tracks.

A gunbattle ensued and Manukyan was hit, officials said. The suspects
fled and Manukyan was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced
dead.

Neiman said at least two weapons were involved in the murder. Neiman
said he didn’t know if Manukyan had been armed.