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More Details Emerge on Rent-A-Car Murder-Suicide

The third man to die has been identified. The three men involved were partners in a rental car business and had been at a meeting in the office.

by Staff
November 18, 2009
1 min to read


The Riverside County, Calif. Coroner’s Office has identified the third man shot in an apparent murder-suicide after a business meeting at a Cathedral City car rental agency, according to the Desert Sun.

The shooting took place at Luxury Rent-A-Car in Cathedral City. Coroners identified the third man, Setrak “Steve” Balabanian, 44, of Glendale, Calif., who died Nov. 16 at Desert Regional Medical Center, the Coroner's Office said.

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Seyed Sajasi, 53, of Palm Desert, allegedly shot Balabanian and Joe N. Khachigian, 49, inside the car rental showroom before shooting himself, police said. Sajasi and Khachigian died at the scene.

A police spokesperson said the men were partners in the rental car business and had been in a meeting at the office. The spokesperson said that some type of falling out took place between the men in the meeting. One man left the meeting, came back with a gun and shot both of his partners before turning the gun on himself.

The Valley News reported additional information on Nov. 2. Police and coroner’s investigators believe Sajasi shot Khachigian and Balabanian before turning the gun on himself following a business meeting. Sajasi and Khachigian were declared dead at the scene.

A fourth person — the business’ manager — was inside the showroom for the meeting when the gunfire erupted, but was not injured, according to Haas.


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