Los Angeles: On Saturday, May 25, 2002, at approximately 5:25 P.M., a citizen walking by the Elegant Creations Jewelry store, located at 4219 Lankershim Boulevard, in Universal City, saw that a window was broken. The citizen took a closer look and observed two bodies lying on the floor of the jewelry store and immediately called the police.

Responding officers and paramedics discovered the two lifeless bodies, a male and a female, who had been shot multiple times. The paramedics pronounced the victims dead from gunshot wounds at the scene.

The victims are identified as Garbis and Mayda Tarakjian, the husband and wife owners of the jewelry store.

The motive for this double homicide appears to be robbery.

North Hollywood Homicide Detectives Robert Morales, and Martin Pinner are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is urged to contact them at 818-623-4075. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.