Police Call Slaying ‘Professional Hit’ : Crime: The killing of a garment factory owner in Glendale appears to have been ordered by an organized group, authorities say.
GLENDALE — The killing of a Studio City garment factory owner appears to have been a “professional hit†by an organized crime group that has been making death threats against owners of clothing firms over the last year, police said Wednesday.
Glendale police said they were looking for a thin man about 5-feet-6 with black hair and brown eyes in his 30s to 40s in the Nov. 2 fatal shooting of Hakop Antonyan, 39.
“This is a professional hit and it has all the overtones of an organized crime type of hit,†said Investigator John McKillop. “There is no other motive that we could find for this murder.â€
“There is a lot of money to be made in the garment industry,†McKillop said. “The victim was one of the top contractors. There have been threats to other major contractors. The whole thing has been taking shape for about a year.â€
The victim’s family also offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Antonyan, the father of two boys ages 16 and 7, was leaving his business, Gaha Inc. at 546 W. Garfield Ave. in Glendale, about 8:30 p.m. when several shots were fired at him from a white, 1980 Chevrolet Malibu, McKillop said.
He was able to step into his Mercedes-Benz for shelter, but the killer stepped out of his own car and continued firing through the window of Antonyan’s car.
Based on a preliminary investigation, McKillop suspects that Antonyan’s death was the culmination of a series of threats made to other clothing and sewing businesses in the county by some who may be upset with the loss of sewing contracts.
Police don’t believe, however, that the group is a major national crime syndicate such as the Mafia, he said.
“There have been some death threats involved,†McKillop said, declining to identify those businesses. “(But) this particular company (Gaha Inc.) has not been singled out or threatened.
“This death was either a message or (someone) was trying to eliminate competition. . . . We want to get the killer first, and work from there.â€
Gaha Inc., incorporated in April, 1987, is a million-dollar business owned by Antonyan and his brother, Garnik. It is based in a building on San Fernando Road in south Glendale.
Li is a special correspondent. Willman is a staff writer.
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