Trail getting colder in killing of pet shop owner

Jenna Bordelon

BURBANK -- When Sarkis Antonyan of Glendale was gunned down Sept. 14,

1999 at his Burbank pet store, no one was talking to police. More than a

year later, detectives are no closer to solving a case that may have

involved armed robbery, gang members and gold.

Unable to sort out the complex set of circumstances surrounding

Antonyan’s slaying, detectives acknowledged they are discouraged by a

lack of cooperation.

“The investigation is at a standstill unless further information

becomes available,” Det. Matthew Miranda said. “We are confident that

people have information, but are reluctant to come forward out of fear.”

Antonyan, 27, was shot several times as he sat behind the counter at

his store, Pets R Us at 409 W. Victory Blvd. He had owned the store for

four months.

Detectives have spent the past year delving into Antonyan’s background

to try and find a motive for the killing. Among the leads authorities

have looked into are several businesses Antonyan was involved in,

including a recycling company, an auto dismantling shop and a jewelry

store.

In the months before his slaying, Antonyan fled to Armenia because he

feared retribution from a man with ties to Rampart gang members, Miranda

said.

“(Antonyan) had been involved in a set-up robbery in the jewelry

district,” Miranda said. “It turned out to be a set-up and he was part of

it.”

In that 1994 incident, police said Antonyan received a shipment of

gold at his jewelry store and conspired to have the gold stolen,

splitting the money from the gold as well as the insurance money with his

partners.

A man alleged to have been involved in the gold scam -- and who later

pleaded guilty to armed robbery in an unrelated case and served time in

state prison -- had Antonyan frightened, Miranda said.

“There was speculation that he was angry with Antonyan, but there’s no

proof,” Miranda said.

Antonyan also had problems with his former business partners in the

auto dismantling business, police said.

In 1998, he filed a breach of contract civil lawsuit in Los Angeles

Superior Court against three of his partners in that business.

More than 12 search warrants have been issued for different properties

and persons, Miranda said. So far, nothing conclusive has been found.

Antonyan’s relatives could not be reached for comment.

Miranda said the person who has lost the most may be the one person

Antonyan never knew. His daughter was born one month after he was killed.