Los Angeles: On Saturday, March 13, 2004, at about 1:00 a.m., Hollywood Area Patrol Officers, responded to a radio call of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon in the 1100 block of North Kingsley Drive.

When the officers arrived, they discovered that 56 year-old Sarkis Martirosyan, a male Armenian, had been shot and killed. Their investigation revealed that Mr. Martirosyan arrived to the above residence and became involved in a dispute with the resident, Arutyun Melkonyan. During the dispute, Martirosyan took out a knife. Melkonyan responded by arming himself with a handgun and fired several rounds striking Martirosyan.

Melkonyan was arrested for 187(a) P.C. Murder.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Hollywood Homicide Detectives, at 213-485-6410. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL or 1-877-529-3855.

This news release was prepared by the Public Information Officer Lucy Diaz, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.