GLENDALE (Combined Sources)–Ara Terunyan, a 35 year-old man who was shot to death last Wednesday, July 22, in Glendale, California, was identified as being a top executive for Ararat Bank in Yerevan.
The Glendale News Press reported last week that Terunyan and his wife were seated in the car on West Colorado Street, waiting for a doctor’s appointment, when a gunman approached and fired several shots into the car, killing Terunyan as his wife looked on.
The shooting occurred at approximately 11:08 a.m. The alleged killer was described as a male African American, who fled the scene, running south through the parking lot and entered the passenger door of a blue American made sedan. The driver of this vehicle was also described as a male African American.
Officers from the Glendale Police Department arrived on scene and discovered a male victim seated in a black Lexus sport utility vehicle. The victim was struck several times by gunfire and was pronounced dead on the scene.
“Detectives do not believe that this was a random act; however, they are not ruling out any motive and are cautious not to jump to any conclusion,” Glendale Police Sergeant Tom Lorenz told the Newspress.
Hovik Dadasyan, a Terunyan family friend in Armenia, said the victim’s wife is pregnant, and he had no idea why the bank executive would be targeted.
Dadasyan and Terunyan were listed as being top executives for Ararat Bank, which is based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, according to a Business Week index. The two also worked together at the Central Bank of Armenia, Dadasyan said.
Terunyan, who died at the scene, became the first homicide victim in Glendale this year. There were three homicides in the city in 2008, and two in 2007.
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