Police say SoCal gunman had grudge against neighbors
The Associated Press
News Fuze Article Launched:08/10/2007 02:22:17 PM PDT BURBANK, Calif.-A
grudge against neighbors apparently prompted a gunman to kill two people,
wound a third and then take his own life in an apartment complex, police said
Friday.
Rafael Shirinian, 49, reloaded his revolver and fired at least a dozen shots
during Thursday afternoon’s rampage, Sgt. Matthew Ferguson said.
"He just snapped, apparently," Ferguson said.
Neighbors said Shirinian apparently had "bad will" toward several people in
the complex over a parking dispute and other issues.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Shirinian confronted neighbors as they
came through the entryway of the complex. He shot Vahik Farhadian, 48, several
times, killing him, and wounded his 22-year-old son, Oshin, once in the upper
body, Ferguson said.
Oshin, whose wound was not life-threatening, fled to an apartment with an
open door, then out through a rear bedroom window.
Shirinian shot and killed a woman in the apartment, 49-year-old Manyam
Masihi. However, it was unclear whether she was shot before or after the father
and son were attacked, Ferguson said.
Masihi’s two adult children also fled through the apartment window, he
added.
Police officers called to the scene heard a final gunshot from another unit
and found Shirinian dead. He had killed himself, Ferguson said.
Shirinian’s adult son and another son in his late teens were in another room
and were unharmed, the sergeant said.
A revolver was found near Shirinian’s body and several other handguns,
rifles and shotguns were found in the apartment, Ferguson said.
Burbank is located about 12 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.