On June 6, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Coral Gables, Florida, resulting in the deaths of Lusine Melikyan, 41, and Matthew Vincent Roll, 60. The incident took place at the Gables Ponce apartment building located at 320 Granello Avenue.
Coral Gables Police responded to the scene around 9:40 a.m. following a 911 call from Suren Mkrtchyan, Melikyan's 20-year-old son, who reported that he had been shot and that two others had also been shot in the apartment. Upon arrival, officers found Melikyan and Roll deceased, while Mkrtchyan was found wounded.
Mkrtchyan was immediately rushed to Jackson South Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition. The investigation revealed that Roll was believed to be the shooter, and it was indicated that he and Melikyan were in a domestic partnership.
The couple had moved to South Florida from California after the COVID-19 pandemic, but they faced significant financial difficulties. A bankruptcy petition filed in January showed that they were struggling to make ends meet, with a monthly income of less than $3,200 and rent exceeding $3,500. A month after their debt was discharged in a chapter 7 bankruptcy, a judge signed an order for their eviction from the apartment.
As of the current date, the police have not released a specific motive for the shooting, and the case remains under investigation. The incident highlights the complexities and stresses that can lead to such tragic outcomes, particularly in cases of financial hardship and domestic tensions.
