Failed business deal may be blame in shooting of Glendale man, police say

A 42-year-old man was arrested late Saturday on suspicion of firing a barrage of bullets at a Glendale businessman over an alleged deal gone bad, police said.

Police detectives took Aram Varikyan into custody about 11:45 p.m. on the 9200 block of Winnetka Avenue in Chatsworth, a day after he allegedly fired several rounds from his vehicle at a businessman near the 400 block of West Colorado Street in Glendale, Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

“It appears, in this investigation, that the victim was specifically targeted by the suspect,” he said. “This is not a random act of violence.”

The shooting occurred about 4:53 p.m. Friday, when the businessman, whose name wasn’t released, had just driven into the rear parking lot of NLE Systems on West Colorado Street, police said.

Moments later, witnesses told police that a silver Volkswagen Jetta pulled up. The driver then leaned out of the car, pointed a gun at the man and fired numerous shots, striking the vehicle and windshield, Lorenz said.

A large apartment complex on the 400 block of Oak Street was also hit, Lorenz said, but no one was injured.

The next day, police identified Varikyan as the alleged shooter, Lorenz said.

Details on Varikyan’s motive were limited because the investigation was ongoing, but police detectives believe the shooting may have resulted from a business deal gone bad.

Varikyan is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is also being held on two outstanding warrants for child endangerment and auto insurance fraud.

He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Glendale.

Anyone with information about Friday’s incident may call the Robbery/Homicide Unit at (818) 548-3987.