North Hollywood Couple Killed by Relative in Graveside Murder-Suicide

A married couple from North Hollywood were shot to death at a cemetery in Ontario by a relative who then committed suicide, police said today.

Misak Minasyan, 60, and Hripsime Minasyan, 59, were fatally shot by 71- year-old Karapet Kalajian of Ontario at about 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery, according to Ontario police.

Kalajian had been married to the deceased wife’s sister. Detectives said he was distraught over the Jan. 3 anniversary of his wife’s death in 2011 and had become estranged from the family.

Kalajian was already at the cemetery Saturday, seated in his car, when three family members arrived in a separate car, according to Ontario Police Sgt. Jeff Higbee. They exited the car and approached a grave site. That’s when Kalajian apparently shot the Minasyans with a handgun, which he then used to kill himself.

The third, older family member, who was using a walker, was unharmed, police said.

Anyone with information about the crime was asked to call Detective Josh Burks at (909) 395-2912. Anonymous information can also be reported by calling (800) 78-CRIME.

City News Service