Hayk Jack Torosyan, 29

Hayk Jack Torosyan, 29, an Armenian man, was stabbed during a fight at 1100 Alameda Ave. in Glendale about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, May 17. He was taken by ambulance to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:33 a.m.

Police spokesman John Balian of the Glendale Police Department said that Torosyan had been involved in an argument with his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend on Friday, May 16. Later that day, Torosyan and a friend, Brian Herbert, 38, went looking for the ex-boyfriend, Avetis Barnasyan, 23, also Armenian. The two men found Barnasyan early Saturday near an alley by the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard. Balian said Torosyan and Barnasyan fought in the alley. During the fight, Torosyan was stabbed once in the chest with a knife. Balian said the knife punctured his heart.   

Police arrested Herbert and Barnasyan on suspicion of murder. Balian said the two men were released by the court on Tuesday, May 20, because Torosyan had initiated the fight and Barasyan was simply defending himself.

Update: According to the L.A. County Department of Coroner, Torosyan is 29-years-old.

Comments

[steve johnson]

My question is whether someone can kill someone else if the person who was killed was unarmed. That seems to be the case here. Why were manslaughter charges not filed? Was fighting the underlying reason for the court's decidion?

[KW]

If you are being attacked and fear your life is in jeopardy, it is within your rights to use deadly force to protect yourself.

Not to mention that this fight was two men against one. The second man fighting him also being 38 (nearly twice the age of the one being attacked). What kind of 38 year old accompanies a 20 year old to attack another 23 year old?

[Naira Maltazyan]

First of all, Haik was 29 not 20. He was threatened by Barnasyan which is why he continued the argument. Barnasyan had 5 friends with him while Haik had only one. Barnasyan also had the weapon on him during the fight while Haik was unarmed. If Barnasyan was truly threatened for his life, then why couldn't he have called the police. If your threatened you inform officials, not take a weapon to a fight. He could have simply refused to meet up with Haik. Haik's parents buried their only son today while the killer is loose, living his life. Tell me how fair that is?

[Joe Black]

I have known Hayk for many years, there is no way he carried a knife and there is no way he could kill another human being...Also, 5 guys should not need a knife to defend themselves agains two. It is also a shame that an armenian kid could actually be raised by an armenian family to do such harm, its a shame on our people and its a shame that this occured three weeks after the same Genocide which our armenian community makes such a big deal over every year. Shame on the parents of the individual who killed our friend as well, Rest in Peace Hayk you wont be forgotten!

[None of Your Business]

Interesting how a story can be taken from one thing and twisted into 100 different versions. All I will do is clarify a few things. There weren’t 5 guys with Barnasyan there was 1. Hayk has had run-ins with the law before for a VERY similar incident. Hayk and his friend were much bigger physically than the suspect. The "ex-girlfriend" was not an ex but just a BOZ playing two guys. Hayk was not stabbed 3 times, only once.
- And for all of you who are so dumb to think that the courts would release a guilty guy in 3 days with murder charges on him, maybe you should use those few brain molecules that are left and realize how much evidence must have existed against the deceased and HIS intensions of KILLING Barnasyan. All the suspect was doing was defending his own life, we could have been reading a story now about a man being beaten to death (Yeah Hayk WAS that big and WAS capable and fully ready to do that). No one thinks of what bruises must exist on the other person do they? This is country around technology think about all the evidence that exists that points the finger in one direction at Hayk. I feel bad for what has happened I pray for Hayk's family because this could have ended very differently, but unfortunately two families have been destroyed for no reason….

[Someone]

I also have known Hayk for many years, acually i used to be Hayk's sisters Lucy's friend... First of all i like to give my depest condolences to the family .... and secong Hayk did not seem that kind of a person who will fight

[someone]

I also want to know if it's true that Hayk's mom also passed away? I read it somewhere in the website's.

[Alley]

I have known Hayk for a good 11 years and he would never hurt a fly. Justice needs to be served and Barnasyan needs to get life in prison! If I was a judge i would give him the death penalty. There is no excuse in taking someones life people! RIP Hayk! I remember that beautiful smile u always had on your face!

[Mark]

Alley, by all accounts, it seems that this was self defense and the deceased brought on his own misfortune.

He should have remembered the old saying of "dont go looking for trouble because trouble will find you first".

[Hasmik]

Although it is a misfortune that we lost Hayk, you can all see that this situation was a misunderstandment. Obviously, Avetis was defending himself against someone who was just looking for a fight. Causing a fight and looking for one are two different points. Avetis didn't even know that there was going to be such a thing, so for all of you who disagree with me you should think twice. Why would a 23 year old boy have intentions of killing someone? All in all, this wasn't Avetis' fault, he was just defending himself and trying to protect HIS own life that was being endangered.

[Naira]

Hey Hasmik, Avetis didn't know there was going to be a fight? Oh ok, so you're telling me that he walks around with a knife on him regularly. Seriously, be logical and stop this BS. And I'm sorry to say but a 23 year old is not considered a boy, he's a man. I think it's about time that Avetis admits the truth. He should act like a man and take responsibility for his actions. And no Hayk's mom did not pass away.

[t]

THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO SAY ABOUT THIS STORY IS THAT AVETIS & THE BROTHER ARE BOTH KILLERS. THEY TOOK AWAY IN INNOCENT PERSONS LIFE AWAY BECAUSE OF A HORE. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED.

[Karine]

Whose brother? There is nothing about the brother and about himself because in my opinion he just saved his life.