LAS VEGAS SHOOTING VICTIM ONCE FOUGHT TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES

KLAS-TV
story.asp?S=11808935
Jan 12 2010
Nevada

LAS VEGAS — A young woman who was killed in a double murder over the
weekend had struggled to stay in this country after an immigration
battle involving herself and her sister.

Channel 8 first met Mariam Sarkisian and her sister in 2005. That’s
when the government was threatening to deport the two back to Armenia
despite living in the U.S. nearly their whole lives. Flangas

According to police, 23-year-old Gregg Thomas, who friends say was
Mariam’s ex-boyfriend, showed up at Mariam’s home unannounced.

"broke the door wide open and Mariam was standing. He shot her. And
then the momma was on the couch. He shot her," said Yelena Flangas,
family friend.

Also in the home was the couple’s 1-year-old child and Mariam’s
younger sister who screamed at Thomas during the shooting.

"’Why did you did this?’ And he turned around and shot himself,
he said ‘your not taking my baby,’" said Flangas.

Friends say the couple had recently split and were arguing over their
young daughter.

There are still four other surviving sisters all under the age of 25
in this family along with the couple’s little girl. The family has
set up an account at Wells Fargo if you’d like to help with funeral
expenses. Just mention the Sarkisian name.