Cops: Couple visiting grave shot dead at cemetery
ONTARIO, Calif. -- Authorities say a man and a woman killed by a former in-law in a murder-suicide at a southern California cemetery were a married couple from North Hollywood visiting a grave.
Police in Ontario say 60-year-old Misak Minasyan and 59-year-old Hripsime Minasyan were fatally shot by Karapet Kalajian Saturday at Bellevue Memorial Park.
City News Service reports the 71-year-old gunman had been married to the murdered woman's sister. Investigators said Sunday that Kalajian had become estranged from the family and was distraught because Jan. 3 is the 5-year anniversary of his late wife's death.
Witnesses told police the suspect was already at the cemetery waiting in his car when the couple arrived, reports CBS LA.
"It's very unusual, obviously he [the suspect] knew that they were coming here this day, it's probably a significant date. It's the first time I've ever heard of it happening," Sargeant Jeff Higbee of the Ontario Police Department told the station.
Kalajian shot them with a handgun and then turned the weapon on himself.
An elderly woman who was with the couple was not harmed.