Tweet
NBC Southern California
March 8 2015
Driver in 4-Year-Old Girl's Hit-Run Death Turns Self in: Police
By Willian Avila and Kate Larsen
A man suspected of being behind the wheel of a car that fatally struck
a 4-year-old Southern California girl and drove off was arrested after
he surrendered at a police station, officials said Saturday.
Shant Badleean, 55, of Glendale was accompanied by his family when he
turned himself in at the Glendale Police Department, said Glendale
police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.
Badleean was booked on a felony hit-and-run charge, police said. His
bail was set at $50,000.
The news came as family and friends held a candlelight vigil for
Violeta Khachaturyan. A moment of silence was held for her about 7:30
p.m. to coincide with the announcement by police.
Loved ones prayed, sang and burned incense - Armenian traditions when
someone dies.
"I believe she is in heaven playing with the angels right now," said
said neighbor Mases Allhiveirdia.
Khachaturyan was struck about 4:55 p.m. Friday when she ran into the
street after her mother, police said. She was hit by a sedan and sent
flying into a parked vehicle while the car drove away.
The light-colored sedan was traveling west in the 1200 block of East
Wilson at the time of the collision, according to a statement released
by the Glendale police Saturday.
"Yesterday we didn't know what color the car was and today we hear
something that no one ever thought we would in this short period of
time. So of course it's definitely a satisfying feeling from the
family," said Arshak Bareghamyan, a family friend.
Neighbors left flowers, candles and stuffed animals at a makeshift
memorial in Glendale in honor of the little girl.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare, we feel for them and if there's
anything that we can do to help them out, we're more than willing to,"
said Karla Mnatsakanyan, who did not know the family but showed up to
the vigil to lend her support.
The Glendale Police Officers Association was accepting donations on
behalf of the Khachaturyan family. Checks can be made out to "GPOA
Cops for Kids" and should indicate that the donation is for the
family. Anyone with questions about donating can call 818-246-9053.
"This tragic event weighs heavy on the hearts of all our police and
fire personnel who were involved in the response and treatment of
little Violeta," Chief Robert Castro said.
NBC4's Asher Klein and Jane Yamamoto contributed to this report.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Glendale-Police-Seek-Driver-in-Fatal-Hit-And-Run-Violeta-Khachaturyan-295495671.html
March 8 2015
Driver in 4-Year-Old Girl's Hit-Run Death Turns Self in: Police
By Willian Avila and Kate Larsen
A man suspected of being behind the wheel of a car that fatally struck
a 4-year-old Southern California girl and drove off was arrested after
he surrendered at a police station, officials said Saturday.
Shant Badleean, 55, of Glendale was accompanied by his family when he
turned himself in at the Glendale Police Department, said Glendale
police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.
Badleean was booked on a felony hit-and-run charge, police said. His
bail was set at $50,000.
The news came as family and friends held a candlelight vigil for
Violeta Khachaturyan. A moment of silence was held for her about 7:30
p.m. to coincide with the announcement by police.
Loved ones prayed, sang and burned incense - Armenian traditions when
someone dies.
"I believe she is in heaven playing with the angels right now," said
said neighbor Mases Allhiveirdia.
Khachaturyan was struck about 4:55 p.m. Friday when she ran into the
street after her mother, police said. She was hit by a sedan and sent
flying into a parked vehicle while the car drove away.
The light-colored sedan was traveling west in the 1200 block of East
Wilson at the time of the collision, according to a statement released
by the Glendale police Saturday.
"Yesterday we didn't know what color the car was and today we hear
something that no one ever thought we would in this short period of
time. So of course it's definitely a satisfying feeling from the
family," said Arshak Bareghamyan, a family friend.
Neighbors left flowers, candles and stuffed animals at a makeshift
memorial in Glendale in honor of the little girl.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare, we feel for them and if there's
anything that we can do to help them out, we're more than willing to,"
said Karla Mnatsakanyan, who did not know the family but showed up to
the vigil to lend her support.
The Glendale Police Officers Association was accepting donations on
behalf of the Khachaturyan family. Checks can be made out to "GPOA
Cops for Kids" and should indicate that the donation is for the
family. Anyone with questions about donating can call 818-246-9053.
"This tragic event weighs heavy on the hearts of all our police and
fire personnel who were involved in the response and treatment of
little Violeta," Chief Robert Castro said.
NBC4's Asher Klein and Jane Yamamoto contributed to this report.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Glendale-Police-Seek-Driver-in-Fatal-Hit-And-Run-Violeta-Khachaturyan-295495671.html