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Victims in Restaurant Shooting Were Eating after a Funeral
The now-identified victims, who were likely intended targets, in Saturday's shooting that left four dead and two in critical condition were gathered after a funeral. 30 to 40 people had come together at the Hot Spot Cafe on Riverside Drive, but when the shooting occurred, only a handful remained.
Despite neighborhood theories on the shadiness of the restaurants, owner Artour Balian said the cafe, complete with tinted windows and soundproof walls--so it didn't disturb neighbors, he explained--was mostly used for private parties.
Numerous bullet holes could be seen from outside the building and differently sized casings were found. The victims were identified as Sarkis Karadjian, 26, of Sherman Oaks, Hayk Yegnanyan, 25, of Glendale, and Harut Baburyan, 28, and Vardan Tofalyan, 31, with no known addresses, said the Daily News.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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