Store Owner Shot During Robbery; Suspect Arrested

 
Los Angeles: On May 18, 2004, at about 11:00 a.m., a Black male suspect entered the Pascal Jewelry store, located at 16101 Ventura Boulevard. The suspect armed himself with a semi-automatic pistol and pointed the gun at an employee behind the counter. As the suspect ordered the employee to lay on the ground, the owner of the store emerged from his office armed with a revolver and fired several times at the suspect possibly striking him. The suspect and the owner struggled for the owner’s gun at which time the owner received a single gunshot wound to the chest. The suspect then ran out of the store taking the owner’s gun with him.
The suspect and two additional male Black suspects who were waiting outside the store, fled the location in a possible black Nissan SUV.
The owner has been identified as 63 year-old Sahag Ohannessian, a resident of Encino. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is listed in critical condition.
On the same day at about 3:30 p.m., investigating detectives received information that a man was dropped off at a local hospital with gunshot wounds. The detectives immediately responded to the hospital and confirmed that the man was the suspect involved in the robbery. The suspect was taken into custody and was arrested for Attempt Murder. The suspect has been identified as 47 year-old Theodore Hasan, a resident of Ontario. Hasan is being held on $500,000 bail.
Anyone with information about outstanding suspects is requested to contact Robbery-Homicide Division, at 213-485-2511. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.