Richard Daniel Aukschun, 44

Richard Daniel Aukschun, a 44-year-old Armenian man, was shot and killed Friday, June 2, in the 15700 block of Saticoy Street in Van Nuys, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 3 p.m., Aukschun confronted a 26-year-old man who was spray-painting graffiti on the side of an automotive repair shop, Los Angeles Police Det. Gabe Bucknell said. The two argued, and the 26-year-old walked away.

The man came back about five minutes later with a gun and chased Aukschun around the body shop, Bucknell said. The gunman cornered Aukschun in a storage closet and shot him point-blank, Bucknell said.

Officers found Aukschun on the ground inside the shop, bleeding from the upper torso, police said. He was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

The gunman ran away on Haskell Avenue, police said.

Police identified the shooter as Abraham Soltero, a Latino, and a documented gang member who was on probation for vandalism, Bucknell said.

Soltero was charged June 7 with one count of murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Soltero pleaded not guilty and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing Sept. 5.

Bucknell said that June 2 was Aukschun’s first day on the job at the body shop.

Anyone with information is asked to call Valley bureau detectives at (818) 374-9550. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.