Richard Daniel Aukschun, a 44-year-old Armenian man, was tragically shot and killed on June 2, 2017, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. The incident occurred in the 15700 block of Saticoy Street, where Aukschun had just started his first day on the job at an automotive repair shop. According to reports, Aukschun confronted a 26-year-old man who was spray-painting graffiti on the side of the shop. The confrontation escalated, and the man left the scene, only to return five minutes later with a gun.
The assailant chased Aukschun around the shop, eventually cornering him in a storage closet and shooting him point-blank. Aukschun was found by officers bleeding from the upper torso and was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m.
The shooter was identified as Abraham Soltero, a documented gang member who was on probation for vandalism at the time of the incident. Soltero fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended by the police. He was charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Soltero pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on September 5, 2017. The case drew significant attention due to the senseless nature of the crime and the fact that it occurred on Aukschun's first day at his new job.
The investigation into Aukschun's death was thorough, with detectives from the Valley bureau leading the efforts. They urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward, offering anonymity through Crime Stoppers. The case highlighted the ongoing issues of gang violence and the dangers faced by individuals confronting criminal activities in their communities. Aukschun's death was a stark reminder of the potential consequences of such confrontations and the need for continued efforts to address gang-related violence in Los Angeles.
