Two Relatives Held in Glendale Slayings

A 67-year-old man and a 30-year-old relative have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a family business dispute erupted in a weekend gunfight that left two men dead, police said Monday.

Gevork Petrosyan, 37, was shot to death in front of his Glendale house in the 1200 block of Green Street, a tree-lined neighborhood of middle-class homes.

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

Aibouchev pulled up in front of Petrosyan’s home about 8 p.m. Sunday, police said. The two men, who are cousins by marriage, began arguing about two family businesses as relatives gathered in front of Petrosyan’s home and watched.

As the argument escalated, Aibouchev allegedly drew a handgun and fired twice at Petrosyan, hitting him once in the arm and once in the upper body, police said. Petrosyan died in the street.

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

After that shooting, Petrosyan’s cousin, 30-year-old Tigran Petrosyan, wrestled control of the gun away from Aibouchev, police said. He turned the weapon on Aibouchev, shooting him twice, they said. The wounded Aibouchev sped away, but crashed into three parked vehicles about a block away and later died of his wounds.

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

Sgt. Rick Young said the shootings remain under investigation, including the basis of the dispute between the two men.

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 he had been 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. They said they were too distraught to discuss the shootings.

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

Jim Brawdy has lived in the neighborhood for the last 23 years and could not recall another shooting in the immediate area.

“Never,” said 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, Bloodstains remained a day later.

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