Glendale News Press, CA
July 7 2007
Park shooting suspects in custody
Officers who arrest two men also find a pistol, which now is being
examined by forensics experts.
By Chris Wiebe
GLENDALE – Glendale Police Department officers arrested two men on
suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a June 26 drive-by
shooting at Brand Park.
Pasadena resident Harutyun Abrahamyan, 21, and Haroutioun Aivazian,
19, of Glendale, were arrested separately at their residences on
Thursday afternoon after a 10-day, multi-unit investigation, Glendale
Police Officer John Balian said.
A handgun that was recovered is being examined by forensic experts,
he added.
"The detectives worked tirelessly along with the gang unit to
identify the subjects who were behind the shooting and ended up
arresting them," he said. "It was a lot of leg work, a lot of
interviewing, a lot of contacting numerous witnesses. With it
happening in the park, there were obviously a lot of people around."
The incident took place at about 5 p.m., when witnesses said a man
driving a white SUV rolled up near the basketball courts on the east
side of the park and, after a brief verbal exchange, fired about five
gunshots at a group of men.
"We know there were some words exchanged, but we don’t know exactly
what was said," Balian said. "And we’re not getting much cooperation
from either side."
No one was injured in the shooting, but stray bullets struck a
Cadillac sedan that was carrying three women and one juvenile
passenger.
Detectives are still trying to untangle the circumstances that
preceded the shooting, but the department is not getting much help
from the victims or the suspects regarding a possible motive, Balian
said.
"We’re still trying to piece this thing together to find out what
their beefs were with each other; who happened to be the intended
target; and who these females that were in the middle of it, who
ended up getting their vehicle shot," he said.
Abrahamyan and Aivazian have apparent gang ties, Balian said.
After the Brand Park shooting, neighboring residents voiced concerns
that the conditions of the facility have turned it into a high-crime
area. Residents regularly report seeing drug paraphernalia and other
debris strewn throughout the park, and hearing loud music from cars
parked in the area.
In response to neighbors’ concerns, city officials posted an employee
at the entrance to the park from 2 to 10 p.m.
Residents who live near Brand Park expressed relief at the
announcement of Thursday’s arrest, but still had concerns about the
safety of the park.
"The good news is we’ve got a great police department," said Robert
Mulder, whose home borders the park.
"If this were to happen in Los Angeles, nobody would have cared. But
the bad news is, we’ve got a park with a lot of problems."
Neighbors in the area are generating a petition that they plan to
submit to the City Council asking for changes in the park, such as
the removal of basketball courts, he added.
"We’re relieved as neighbors that someone’s in custody," he said.
"But we know this is just the tip of the iceberg."
Both men are being held at Glendale Jail.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
