A third man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a February crash in Chatsworth that authorities said was the result of illegal street racing.
Karen Gary Balyan, 42, was charged with two counts of murder in the Feb. 26 deaths, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
He was arrested about 10 a.m. Tuesday after surrendering, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A felony warrant for his arrest had been issued April 10, the DA’s office said.
“He wisely made a choice to turn himself in because we were further in our investigation and it was just a matter of time,” LAPD Detective Bill Bustos said.
Balyan appeared in San Fernando Superior Court Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea, the DA’s office said. He was due to return to court June 22.
He joined Henry Michael Gevorgyan, 22, and Irael Valenzuela, 39, as the defendants in the case. Gevorgyan was allegedly driving a Ford Mustang that crashed; he was accused of running from the crash scene on foot.
Valenzuela allegedly drove a second vehicle that sped away from the crash scene.
Balyan was described by police as a “participant,” while the DA’s office called him the “driver” of a vehicle that crashed during the race.
Two of the three men charged were the drivers while a third was signaling the start of the race, Bustos said. He did not say which man was accused of which role.
Gevorgyan’s attorney said in early March that video from the scene shows that he was between the two cars but was not a driver.
The younger two men also face double murder charges. They were ordered to stand trial on April 21. Charges of engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway causing a concussion were dismissed by the prosecutor during the preliminary hearing, a DA’s office spokesman said.
Balyan’s bail was set at $3 million.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to 30 years to life in state prison.
Inmate records indicated Valenzuela bailed out on March 11, while Gevorgyan was released Friday.
Eric Siguenza, 26, and Wilson Thomas Wong, 50, died when a vehicle involved in a street race spun out of control and into the crowd of spectators at the early morning event. A third man was seriously injured.
Tips from the public helped identify the third suspect, Bustos said.
A new LAPD squad is working to identify street vehicles that have been modified to race, Bustos said.
“Illegal street racing is extremely dangerous,” the detective said.
Editor’s Note: Police initially said Balyan was 44, but his correct age — 42 — was later given by the DA’s office. Additionally, the DA’s office initially gave the incorrect date for the day when the crash occurred. The story has been updated.
