“I don’t think people have to fear that this was a random act”**

There are way more details (and a grisly photo) regarding this morning's murder in Veronica Rocha's latest report in the News-Press:

• victim was 35 year old North Hollywood man
• was killed by several shots through driver's side window
• it appears victim was targeted specifically
• gunman "was wearing a blue-striped T-shirt and blue jeans", and, according to a witness, escaped in a "blue, four-door Ford sedan with tinted windows"

*Victim identified: Ara Terunyan, 35, of North Hollywood

**More details from the police press release:

"The shooter was described as a male African American. After the shooting the suspect fled the location by running south through the parking lot and entered the passenger door of a blue American made sedan. The driver of this vehicle was also described as a male African American.

The victim had accompanied his wife to an appointment at a medical office located at the address. While sitting in their vehicle the suspect appeared and began firing at the victim, striking him several times. His wife was left unharmed.

Detectives and Forensic Specialists of the Glendale Police Department were called to the scene and combed the area for evidence and witnesses.

Preliminarily, Detectives do not believe that this was a random act, however are not ruling out any motive and are cautious not to jump to any conclusion. Detectives are requesting the public’s assistance. Should anyone have information regarding the identities of the suspects, the suspected getaway-vehicle or any information that may assist the Detectives, they are requested to call the Homicide Detectives at 818-548-3987. Anonymous Tips can be phoned into the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 818-507-STOP. Tips may be eligible for a cash reward.

This is the first homicide for the City of Glendale in 2009.
2008, 3 Homicides
2007, 2 Homicides
2006, 2 Homicides
2005, 19 Homicides (11 attributed to Metrolink)
2004, 5 Homicides
2003, 6 Homicides
2002, 9 Homicides
2001, 5 Homicides "

Murder On Colorado

I saw the CBS helicopter hovering near the Americana at lunch today and wondered what was up. It was covering Glendale's first homicide of the year - the victim is 40-something male who was shot multiple times in a black Lexus GX470 SUV behind AllState Insurance at 318 W. Colorado Blvd., just south of the Glendale Galleria.

According to the News-Press, police are searching for a black male who fled towards the 5 Freeway on foot.

• Glendale News-Press
• L.A. Now (LA Times blog)
• CBS2 (with video)
• Google News
• LA Observed

Murder On The Freeway

Early this morning a man was shot and killed while riding a motorcycle on a connector road between the 210 and 2 freeways.

From the Daily News:

Manuel Vincent Martin, 32, of Venice Beach was shot about 2 a.m. while riding his motorcycle on the connector road linking the eastbound Foothill and southbound Glendale freeways, authorities said.

Firefighters and California Highway Patrol officers found Martin's motorcycle in the bushes along the connector and his body nearby.

Police questioned a shirtless motorcyclist with a large tattoo on his back that said "Mongols" - likely referring to the Mongols Motorcycle Club, a motorcycle gang founded in Montebello in the 1970s.

The connector roads linking the 210 and 2 freeways were shut down, along with the Foothill Boulevard on-ramp to the southbound 2, clogging roadways during the morning commute.

More coverage:
Glendale News-Press
LA Times
Google News

This is the fourth homicide in Glendale so far this year. The News-Press article summarizes the others:

The last homicide occurred May 30 on the 600 block of West Stocker Street.

Yvette Hakopian, 36, of Glendale was found strangled to death inside her home. Her ex-boyfriend, Grigor Grigoryan, was later arrested and charged in connection with her death.

On May 17, Hayk Torosyan, 30, of Glendale was stabbed to death by Avetis Barnasyan, 24, during a physical altercation in the Del Taco parking lot at 2101 W. Glenoaks Blvd.

Barnasyan was not charged with Torosyan’s death because police ruled that he had acted in self-defense. The year’s first homicide was that of 20-month-old Mikea Lim.

The baby was taken off life support in March after she was found to be brain-dead from severe head injuries allegedly sustained at her grandparents’ home in Glendale.

Her mother, Anna Regina Lim, was charged with murder.