Love triangle led to shooting of acupuncturist, police say

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A 48-year-old Glendale man is expected to be arraigned this week on charges that he shot an acupuncturist four times on Monday over a dispute stemming from a love triangle, officials said.

The man, Ira Geragos, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He also tried to ram two police officers with his car during a short pursuit after the shooting, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Reached at the building where the shooting took place Tuesday, the victim’s mother identified him as Aram Akopyan but declined to comment further on the matter.

Akopyan suffered four gunshot wounds to his upper torso and was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he appeared to be recovering, according to police.

He was shot about 1:25 p.m. in the courtyard of a medical and dentistry office building in the 100 block of East Glenoaks Boulevard. Detectives believe the shooting was the result of a love triangle, Lorenz said.

Officials said Geragos is the ex-husband of a woman dating Akopyan.

Witnesses said Akopyan yelled for help, prompting business owners to run out of their offices to cover his wounds with gauze as he bled profusely.

Geragos was holding at least one gun as he fled the courtyard, witnesses told officers.

Akopyan, an acupuncturist who operates a health and spiritual living office inside the building, was able to talk to police and identify the shooter as Geragos, officials said.

After being tracked down by Special Enforcement Detail officers, Geragos allegedly tried to flee in his car, prompting a short pursuit, during which police say he tried to ram into the officers.

Geragos eventually crashed into a tree in the 1000 block of Rosedale Avenue and was arrested, Lorenz said.

Detectives allegedly discovered two handguns and ammunition inside the car.

Geragos was being held Tuesday in lieu of $1-million bail, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records. --Veronica Rocha, Times Community News