By Jonah Rosenbaum
A man who stepped in front of an Amtrak commuter train has died in what the Glendale Police have confirmed was a suicide. City News Service reports that Henry Manokian, who died shortly before noon on Monday, had allegedly tried to kill his estranged wife the day before.
Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William told the L.A. Times that the fatal collision occurred near the intersection of San Fernando Road and Doran Street in Glendale. William said that, according to witness statements, "it appears that it was a very intentional act by the pedestrian to get in front of the train."
William told LAist that Manokian informed a passerby of his intentions to jump in front of the train moments before the incident occurred. According to William, the bystander rushed to a nearby business and asked that they call the police. “We got the call almost at the exact moment of the collision,” he said.
According to the Daily News, Manokian's estranged wife had been stabbed in the throat just before 6 p.m. on Sunday night. A pedestrian found the fifty-year-old woman on the street. She later underwent surgery and is currently hospitalized in stable condition. William told LAist that Manokian, 57, was identified as a suspect in the attempted murder. “Obviously we won’t be pressing charges,” William said, “but it is still an investigation that needs to be completed. We have several witnesses and they are all cooperating.”
Jonah Rosenbaum is a freelance writer living in L.A.
