LAPD PROBES LITTLE ARMENIA KILLINGS, LOOKING AT POSSIBLE FAMILY CONNECTION

Los Angeles Times
March 29 2010
CA

In December 2008, a 15-year-old girl arrived home from school to
discover her father and 8-year-old sister fatally shot inside the
family’s Hollywood apartment.

Los Angeles police detectives labeled it a double homicide — but
the case remained unsolved.

Then, on Friday, a 38-year-old woman was found shot to death about
two blocks from the apartment. Detectives said the woman is related
to the family linked to the double homicide. They are investigating
whether there is a connection.

Officers responding to a call in the 5800 block of Lexington Avenue
about 8:20 p.m. Friday discovered Karine Hakobyan’s body in the
driver’s seat of her Honda CR-V, Los Angeles police said.

The original double homicide shocked the neighborhood of low-rise
apartment complexes in the eastern part of Hollywood, known as Little
Armenia. All three shooting victims were Armenian. Khachik Safaryan,
43, and his 8-year-old daughter, Lusine, were found shot to death Dec.

11, 2008, in the 1200 block of Tamarind Avenue.

Investigators believe the father and daughter were killed between
7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. — after the 15-year-old went to school.

The family vehicle was found a few blocks from the home, officials
said, and there was no indication of forced entry into the car. Police
said they did not know who moved the car.

Robbery-homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are
investigating the case. Anyone with information about this incident
is asked to call (877) LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tipsters may call (800)
222-8477.