Arrest Warrant for Teen Issued in Fatal Shooting of Student

A Pasadena judge issued an arrest warrant Thursday for a Glendale teenager accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old Hoover High School student last week.

The warrant was issued after Deputy Dist. Atty. JoAnn Glidden filed a murder charge against Artiom Badalyan, 17, adding the allegation that Badalyan used a firearm in the commission of the offense. Police said the weapon used in the shooting was found Wednesday at Brand Park in Glendale.

On Tuesday, Glendale police identified Badalyan as the person who shot Avetis “Avo” Demerchyan once in the stomach on Sept. 10. The shooting occurred after a lunchtime argument on campus, according to police.

Demerchyan died two days later at County-USC Medical Center.

A 15-year-old juvenile has already been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the killing, authorities said. Also, 18-year-old Babken Santrosyan has been arrested and charged as an accessory for driving Badalyan to the scene of the crime, a district attorney spokeswoman said.

A reward of up to $1,000 has been offered by Glendale Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of Badalyan. Anyone with further information has been urged to call Glendale Investigator Susan Hayn at (818) 548-3987 or the 24-hour number, (818) 548-4840.