Murder Investigation Leads To 2 Arrests, Valley Grow Operation: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA — Police arrested two men suspected of shooting an 80-year-old man in Encino during a brazen home-invasion robbery, authorities announced Tuesday. During the course of dramatic arrests, police discovered an underground marijuana grow operation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The March 2 shooting of an elderly man inside his home in a quiet Encino neighborhood rattled the community. According to detectives, the two men behind the slaying are now behind bars.

Timothy Kirkpatrick, 42, and Hakop Keloyan, 48, were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder for the shooting death of Stuart Herman, at a home in the 4500 block of Densmore Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Kirkpatrick was charged with one count each of murder, assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon, along with two counts of first- degree residential burglary with a person present.

Keloyan was charged with one count of assault with a firearm, two counts each of first-degree residential burglary with a person present and possession of a firearm by a felon, along with four counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information.

The criminal complaint alleges that Kirkpatrick and Keloyan personally used a handgun during the crimes with which they are charged.

Kirkpatrick has convictions for crimes including burglary and robbery dating back to 1998 while Keloyan was convicted for vandalism in 2021, according to the criminal complaint.

Kirkpatrick and Keloyan are set to be arraigned May 9 in a Van Nuys courtroom, according to the LAPD. They were both being held without bail, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.

Kirkpatrick was arrested Tuesday morning following a standoff. When officers served a search warrant on Kirkpatrick in the 1600 block of Emerick Avenue in Simi Valley, he barricaded himself before surrendering, according to police.d.

A second search warrant was served about 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 5400 block of Allott Avenue in Sherman Oaks, where Keloyan was arrested, police said.

"While detectives completed the search warrant, detectives discovered an illegal marijuana grow in the subterranean garage," police said. "The Van Nuys Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail responded and removed hundreds of marijuana plants."

Herman was shot and killed inside his home in the 4500 block of Densmore Avenue. Another man who arrived at the home from the grocery store during the crime was pistol-whipped by the attackers, who then fled the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The second victim, a man in his 60s, was the victim's brother-in-law, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at 818-374-9550, or 877-LAPD-247. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222- TIPS.

City News Service contributed to this report.