Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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On April 3, 2010, 26-year-old Sarkis Karadjian, a white male of Armenian background, was fatally shot at about 4:30 p.m. inside the Hot Spot Mediterranean Café in the Valley Village neighborhood of North Hollywood, Los Angeles County. He was among a group gathered for a memorial luncheon following a funeral when one or possibly two gunmen opened fire in the restaurant. Three men, including Karadjian, 28-year-old Harut Baburyan, and 25-year-old Hayk Yegnanyan, died at the scene; a fourth victim, 31-year-old Vardan Tofalyan, died at a hospital about an hour later. Two others were wounded and survived.

Investigators initially faced conflicting witness accounts and uncertainty about the number of shooters. Ballistics and shell casing evidence were examined; analysts later determined more than 50 shots had been fired and recovered some 30 bullets from victims, many apparently shot at close range. Authorities said the victims were targeted and noted possible ties to Armenian or Eurasian organized crime, though no single motive was confirmed.

Within weeks, 28-year-old Nerses Arthur Galstyan was identified as the suspect; he was alleged to have left, fetched a firearm from his car, then returned and opened fire. He was arrested on April 20, 2010, and later prosecuted. Does anyone have information about Karadjian, the memorial gathering, or what was seen at the Hot Spot Café that afternoon?