Police identify victims in deadly shooting outside Valley Glen smoke shop
Authorities are investigating the circumstances around a car-to-car shooting near a smoke shop in Valley Glen that killed two men and left another critically injured.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a shots fired call just after 10 p.m. Monday at Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Victory Boulevard.
The ensuing investigation revealed that the shooting happened after an argument among a group of men broke out, which led to two men drawing guns and opening fire. Authorities believe the argument and shooting may have stemmed from a business dispute.
Rounds struck each man, killing two of them and leaving another in critical condition. One of the bodies was found near a BMW with bullet holes covering the driver's side windshield.
Detectives identified the two men killed in the shooting as 44-year-old Arkadi Simonyan and 38-year-old Mesrop Malkhasyan. The third man, 23-year-old Vahan Simonyan remains hospitalized. He has absentee booked for murder.
Absentee booking happens when a suspect is not housed in jail at the time of the booking.
LAPD Captain Brian O'Connor said there were no other suspects being sought in connection with the shooting.
