One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
3rd man arrested in connection to illegal racing deaths in Chatsworth
Forty-four-year-old Karen Balyan has been arrested for participating in a Chatsworth illegal race that killed two and seriously injured a third person this past February. He has been charged with two counts of murder.
Balyan surrendered to the Los Angeles Criminal Court Tuesday morning, according the Los Angeles Police Department. Balyan turned himself in with his attorney after there was a warrant issued for his address.
Thirty-eight-year-old Israel Valenzuela and 21-year-old Henry Gevorgyan were also previously arrested in connection to the street race crash.
Though authorities have declined to state the specific roles of the three men played in the race, the notice of Balyan's arrest warrant stated he had been identified as the driver of the souped up Mustang that plowed into spectators February 26, according to City News Service.
Two of the onlookers, Eric Siguenza and Wilson Thomas Wong, were struck and killed by the Mustang.
Gevorgyan is the owner of the souped up Mustang that veered off the road immediately after the illegal street race began. His lawyer says he was not behind the wheel of the Mustang. A video of the incident shows Gevorgyan starting .
Balyan's bail is set at $3,000,000.