Police seek two robbery suspects

Gretchen Hoffman

Glendale Police are turning to the public for help in finding two

men suspected of shooting at a man during a robbery of a local

cigarette store.

Police believe Vilson Abelyan, 20, Garmik Kirakosian, 21, and two

other men walked into Bargain Cigarettes, 821 W. Colorado St., on

Sept. 6 and held it up at gunpoint.

During the robbery, one of the suspects fired a shot at the

storeowner, and the four men ran out of the store, Glendale Police

Sgt. Kirk Palmer said.

The owner was not injured.

Abelyan and Kirkosian, both of Glendale, are considered armed and

dangerous.

“We believe that these individuals are aware they’re wanted by the

police,” Sgt. Kirk Palmer said. “Although they do reside in Glendale,

we believe that they may be in hiding in adjacent communities. It

would not be unlikely for these individuals to return to Glendale and

the surrounding communities because they have roots here.”

Cigarette theft has been a prevalent crime in Glendale over the

past several years, but the Sept. 6 incident was characterized by a

larger potential for violence, Palmer said.

“It would appear that these individuals are becoming more

aggressive, more confrontational,” he added.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call

the Glendale Police Robbery/Homicide unit at 548-3987. Anonymous tips

can be made to Glendale Crime Stoppers at 507-7867. A reward of up to

$1,000 is available upon the robbers’ arrest.