Teenager Surrenders in Slaying of Student
A month after he allegedly shot a Hoover High School student to death near campus, a 17-year-old youth surrendered Friday to police.
Artiom Badalyan, 17, is being held without bail at Eastlake Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder.
Badalyan allegedly shot Avetis “Avo” Demirchyan, a Hoover High junior, after a Sept. 10 fistfight between two groups of Armenian youths in the faculty parking lot. Demirchyan, who was shot in the stomach, died two days later.
After a month in hiding, Badalyan and his lawyer walked into the Glendale police station. Police declined to discuss what Badalyan said after his arrest, and his lawyer did not return calls seeking comment.
Glendale police said the shooting arose from a schoolyard insult. Several students began fighting near the campus tennis courts. When other students attempted to break up the melee, Badalyan allegedly ran to a minivan, pulled out a gun and fired at Demirchyan.
Badalyan fled, but two of his friends were arrested the next day. Babken Santrosyan, 18, has been charged with accessory to murder, according to Sgt. Rick Young.
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