On May 1, 2024, 19-year-old College of the Canyons student Gavin Orozco-Unzueta was fatally shot in a car-to-car incident in Granada Hills, Los Angeles. The shooting occurred around 12:55 a.m. near Rinaldi Street and Shoshone Avenue. Orozco-Unzueta, a passenger in a white Honda coupe, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In the initial aftermath, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had limited information regarding the suspect or suspects involved. Investigators noted that the suspect's vehicle, described as a white, four-door sedan, had been parked near the intersection of Braemore Road and Braemore Place for approximately two and a half hours before the shooting. Authorities appealed to the public for any information that could assist in identifying the perpetrator(s).
As the investigation progressed, a significant development occurred with the arrest of 23-year-old Grigor Hovsepyan on August 28, 2024. Hovsepyan was charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, the latter charges pertaining to the other occupants in the vehicle with Orozco-Unzueta at the time of the shooting. He was taken into custody by the LAPD and held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, with bail set at over $5 million.
The arrest brought a measure of relief to Orozco-Unzueta's family and the College of the Canyons community, who had been mourning the loss of a promising young student. Orozco-Unzueta, a 2023 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, had enrolled at College of the Canyons in the fall of 2023, majoring in real estate. His untimely death had left a profound impact on those who knew him.
As of the latest available information, Hovsepyan was awaiting a preliminary hearing, where evidence would be presented to determine if the case should proceed to trial. The LAPD continued to encourage anyone with additional information about the case to come forward, aiming to ensure a thorough and just resolution to the tragic incident.
