Official: Los Angeles police identify suspect in restaurant shooting that left 4 dead
By Thomas Watkins, APFriday, April 9, 2010
Official: LA police ID suspect in cafe killings
LOS ANGELES — Police have identified a suspect in a shooting at a North Hollywood restaurant that left four dead, a law enforcement official said Friday.
The suspect, Nerses Galstyan, remains at large and is also wanted on a federal indictment for weapons charges, said the official, who was speaking ahead of a formal announcement so requested anonymity.
The Hot Spot Cafe was filled with customers last Saturday when at least one gunman walked in and opened fire, training most of his shots on a group of men sitting at a table. Three men died at the scene and another died later at a hospital.
Los Angeles police have identified the victims as Harut Baburyan, 28; Sarkis Karadjian, 26; Vardan Tofalyan, 31; and Hayk Yegnanyan, 25.
In February, a federal grand jury indicted Galstyan on suspicion of dealing firearms without a license and possessing a weapon with an obliterated serial number.
A police spokesman could not immediately confirm whether a suspect had been identified.
No motive has been released in the killings.
