2 Relatives Held in Fatal Shootings

A 67-year-old man and a 30-year-old relative have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a dispute over family recycling businesses prompted a shootout in the streets that left two other relatives dead, police said Monday.

Gevork Petrosyan, 37, was shot to death after an argument in front of his home in the 1200 block of Green Street, a quiet, tree-lined thoroughfare in a neighborhood of tidy middle-class homes.

Petrosyan’s alleged assailant, identified by police as 36-year-old Rafael Aibouchev, was also killed.

According to police, Aibouchev pulled up in front of Petrosyan’s home about 8 p.m. Sunday. The two men, who are related by marriage, began arguing as relatives, gathered in front of Petrosyan’s home, looked on. As the argument escalated, Aibouchev allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired twice at Petrosyan, hitting him once in the arm and once in the upper torso. Petrosyan died where he fell in the street.

Seconds after the fatal shots were fired, Petrosyan’s uncle, 67-year-old Rafik Petrosyan, approached Aibouchev’s car and was shot in the leg by Aibouchev, said Glendale police spokesman Chahe Keuroghelian.

Following that shooting, Petrosyan’s cousin, 30-year-old Tigran Petrosyan, managed to wrest control of the gun from Aibouchev, police said. He then turned the weapon on Aibouchev, shooting him twice in the torso. Wounded, Aibouchev pressed the gas pedal of his silver Pontiac and sped from the scene. He crashed into three parked cars about a block away and later died of his gunshot wounds.

Keuroghelian said Aibouchev and Petrosyan were arguing about two separate recycling businesses operated by the family. Details of the dispute were not immediately available, he said.

Sgt. Rick Young said all aspects of the shooting remain under investigation, including the precise motive and nature of the family businesses.

Rafik and Tigran Petrosyan were arrested on suspicion of murder and are being held without bail, police said.

Asked why Rafik Petrosyan was arrested even though he was shot and did not fire a weapon, Young said that he had been present and involved in an altercation in which two men were killed, and that “his statements do not match the facts we have.”

Friends and family gathered at the Petrosyan home Monday said they were too distraught to discuss the shooting.

Neighbors said the Petrosyans moved to the neighborhood about a year ago and had been busy remodeling their home.

“He seemed like a nice guy,” said Jim Brawdy, who has lived in the neighborhood for 23 years and could not recall another killing in the immediate area.

“Never,” agreed Salpi Artinian, a resident of 21 years who lives next door to the Petrosyans.

Artinian said she and her husband, a minister, could see Petrosyan’s body lying in the street for hours after the shooting, and pointed to bloodstains that remained a day later.

“So sad,” she said, shaking her head. “So sad.”