The Homicide Report

A story for every victim

The Homicide Report

Died on
Oct. 17, 2010

Sun Valley
7200 N. Lankershim Blvd.
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Cause: Gunshot
Race/Ethnicity: White
Agency: LAPD

Vartan Avatyan, 18

Oct. 18, 2010, 10:38 a.m.

Vartan Avatyan, identified by the coroner's office as an 18-year-old white man, was fatally shot Sunday, Oct. 17, in the 7200 block of North Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Avatyan and several friends were at a taco stand about 12:40 a.m. when man described by witnesses as Latino walked up and started shooting at him, according to a Los Angeles Police Department news release.

Suffering from several gunshot wounds, Avatyan was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later, police said.

The shooter is believed to have fled the area in a blue compact car.

Anyone with information about the identity of the shooter or details about Avatyan's death is asked to contact LAPD North Hollywood homicide detectives at (818) 623-4075. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800)-222-8477).

-- Sarah Ardalani

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20 reader comments

It's pretty sad that a young man died at this age. I've been hearing a lot of negativity from Armenians talking about a Mexican who killed this young man. First of all the male was described as a Hispanic male. Not necessarily meaning it was Mexican. If there was a Middle Eastern committing a crime and everyone would say Armenian I don't think it's right it could of been Persian or something else. People gotta correct themselves on this. First of all in my opinion as of the story I was reading no one is gonna go and pull a trigger on someone when there is more than one person there. This young man was probably involved in something with whoever committed this crime. No one kills for fun. I know how young Armenians have become and they are getting worst thinking they are Mobsters or some stuff like that. Besides whats a 18 year old doing on a Sunday night 12 midnight? Where are these kids parents? Parents don't know what their kids are doing now days....

— Me Oct. 19, 2010 at 9:09 a.m.