Homicide Report > Sarkis Karadjian, 26
Sarkis Karadjian, 26
Died April 3, 2010 at 4:55 p.m.
Sarkis Karadjian, a 26-year-old white man, died Saturday, April 3, in the 11600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police investigators said Karadjian, along with three men, Hayk Yegnanyan, 25; Harut Baburyan, 28; and Vardan Tofalyan, 31, were inside the Hot Spot café, a Mediterranean restaurant, when a gunman or gunmen opened fire before fleeing. Baburyan, Karadjian and Yegnanyan were pronounced dead at the scene. Tofalyan was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour later, according to coroner's records. Two other men were injured but were expected to survive.
Days after the killings, Los Angeles Police Department detectives were struggling with conflicting accounts and an undetermined motive.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that detectives were skeptical about some of the accounts given by witnesses at the restaurant and are still not sure whether there was one gunman or two. Detectives also aren't sure how many people were at the restaurant at the time because some customers apparently fled before police arrived.
The sources, who spoke to The Times on the condition that they not be named because it was an ongoing investigation, said they believe the shooting was tied to Armenian or Eurasian organized crime but are unsure of the motive.
Investigators are hoping that shell casings recovered from the Hot Spot Cafe will provide a clearer account of exactly what happened Saturday afternoon.
Capt. Kevin McClure of the LAPD's robbery-homicide division, said the large of number of gunshots fired during the attack suggest that more than one gunman was involved, but detectives aren't sure.
"We are looking for anyone who knows about this shooting to come forward," he said. A security video from the restaurant, McClure said, "did not provide the identity of the suspect or suspects because it didn't show the inside" of the cafe.
—Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein
- Neighborhood: Valley Village
- Age: 26
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Agency: LAPD Robbery Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: White
- Crime scene: Commercial building
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28 reader comments about Sarkis Karadjian
rest in peace to all of you guys , it was to soon fr you guys to leave this hectic world , someone will pay for all of this my condolences to all the family's. RIP SAKO YOU WILL BE MISSED
April 5, 2010 at 12:55 p.m.
Rest in peace dear cousin Saqo....
April 6, 2010 at 6:22 a.m.
nobody could put back Goose like Sako...rip brotha!
April 6, 2010 at 9:10 p.m.
Rest in pease my favorite cousin Sako jan. You will be missed and olways be in my hart.
April 7, 2010 at 12:50 a.m.
RIP
April 7, 2010 at 1:33 a.m.
I Didnt know anyone of you guys, buts its really sad to what hear what happen. Rest in Peace....
April 7, 2010 at 4:32 p.m.
RIP Sako
April 7, 2010 at 6:32 p.m.
I heard they caugh the two guys who did this. They where in Mexico trying to get away.
April 7, 2010 at 6:35 p.m.
R.I.P Sako, my heart goes out to your family may God give them strenght during this tuff time :'(
April 7, 2010 at 11:46 p.m.
Dear Sako jan rest in peace,we'll always remember you....
April 8, 2010 at 4:34 a.m.
Rest in Peace Sako jan.......
April 8, 2010 at 2:09 p.m.
R.I.P
My heart goes out to ur family and loved ones sorry to hear what happend!!
god bless ur family!!
April 8, 2010 at 4:57 p.m.
Rest in Peace dear cousin.We miss you!
April 9, 2010 at 3:46 p.m.
RIP Sako
April 10, 2010 at 9:17 a.m.
R.I.P Sako!!!
April 10, 2010 at 1:45 p.m.
He was young, but very mature for his age,"Call me Sako," he'd say with quiet dignity. That's how Sarkis Karadjian would introduce himself to people. How will we remember Sako? Fondly. How often? Every single day, at every gathering, milestone, and life moment he should have shared with us. Sako was, to put it simply, a wonderful guy. He was a good friend, a nice person with a big heart; smart, funny, caring. Sako was genuine, witty, and wise beyond his years. To know Sako was to know that he came from a wonderful family, because the level of warmth, love and loyalty that he had could only be learned from having an amazing family that instilled those valuable traits within him. There is not one person that knew Sako that will not miss him, there is not one person that knew Sako that will ever forget him and there is not one person who could ever replace him. We know you're with the Angels now Sako, but we wish with all our hearts united that you were still here with us.
April 10, 2010 at 2:01 p.m.
RIP Sako and the rest of the guys<3 this is beyond sad. We're suppose to protect each other not kill each other. This should'nt have happend!!!! =*(
April 10, 2010 at 5:35 p.m.
SAKO... let your soul rest in peace .... the thought of you not being here brings a million tears to my eyes. my condolences to your family, you will never be forgotten and always be missed. You always said don't trust anyone, don't worry baby justice will be served one way or another.
miss you like crazy
April 10, 2010 at 11:57 p.m.
RIP Sako, you were like a brother to me. You saw who I really was and respected me for that. I will never forget your heart of gold, the kindness you shared with me, the trust, the loyalty but most of all, all that you gave to me when all that I had was lost. You always made sure I had food in my mouth, a place to put my head down and that I was out of harms way. RIP brother, my heart broke into a million pieces when I heard of your loss. The world lost a standout guy, you were one in a million. My heart goes out to you and your family.
April 11, 2010 at 4:42 a.m.
R.I.P. sak...may god be with ur family :(
April 12, 2010 at 5:31 a.m.
Awww Sako baby! :'(...I think of you and cry.
I am grateful for the time that we shared together and to have had you in my life even though it was for a short time. I will never forget your eyes and smile and how they made me melt. I will always remember how we would run into each other all over the valley and I told you once that whenever I saw a group of Armenian guys hanging out most of the time you would be there and now you won't be and the thought of it makes me sad. 143,637-007.
April 12, 2010 at 10:56 a.m.
R.I.P ASTVATS BOLORET HET.
SUCH A MAJOR LOSE. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILYS.
YOUR ALL TO YOUNG AND DIDNT DESERVE THIS.
GOD WILL PUNISH THE ONE WHO DID THIS TO YOU GUYS. R.I.P
April 12, 2010 at 2:54 p.m.
Will never forget you.... RIP
April 12, 2010 at 11:09 p.m.
It's very unfortunate and shameful for the Armenian race to be at this level of hate and disrespect towards not only of the human race but of one another. It's disgusting what it is. This is not how Armenians raise thier children to be. Who are we to end ones life? May they gunman's soul rot in hell eternally. Shame on you cowards.
April 17, 2010 at 1:42 p.m.
sako!!!miss you,i cant believe its true.goodtimes at the shop**<3rip.!:(
April 19, 2010 at 4:36 p.m.
Sak jan R.I.P miss u a lot...still in shock and cannot believe u r gone...great news who ever did this to you and to ur friends has been arrested its JUSTICE time....miss u sako lots n so does everyone else...n yrs ago I made promise to always watch after ur bro and will do so....till we meet again.....
April 22, 2010 at 2:07 a.m.
Sako,Baby I miss you sooooooo much, can't believe you're gone. I will never see palm springs the same. the Valley will never be the same, remembering the old days makes me smile. R.I.P. my love, I will never forget you. I went to your grave and couldn't believe I had to visit you that way, brings tears to my eyes that I will never see you again! That smile and those eyes never leave my mind, all I have are pictures and memories ..... I will dream of you till we meet again ...
I lOVE YOU FOREVER!
April 22, 2010 at 9:04 a.m.
RIP Saqo
Feb. 14, 2011 at 4:34 a.m.
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