Friends and family of Vanik Voskanyan, who was fatally stabbed in Beverly Hills last month, have expressed distress over media reports characterizing him as homeless, asserting that he was a beloved son, brother, and friend with a vibrant intellectual life.
Voskanyan, 40, died from multiple sharp-force injuries in a hospital after being attacked in an alleyway behind the 400 block of North Palm Drive on the night of August 30. Authorities have charged 19-year-old Conoray Lawantara with murder in connection with the incident. Lawantara has pleaded not guilty.
A neighbor reported that Lawantara had confronted a man believed to be Voskanyan, who was allegedly going through trash in the alley. This account, widely disseminated, led to Voskanyan being described as homeless, a portrayal strongly refuted by those who knew him. Levon Grigoryan, a longtime friend, stated, "Vanik was not a homeless person. It is painful for his family and friends to see him reduced to a single description that does not tell the truth about the person he was."
Grigoryan and Armen Akopyan, Voskanyan's uncle, described him as an intelligent individual residing in Glendale with his mother and brother. He had a passion for reading and was knowledgeable about politics, sports, and current events. Akopyan noted that Voskanyan, who immigrated from Yerevan, Armenia, in 2009, had studied dentistry and worked in various fields, including construction, jewelry, and as a dental technician.
A Catholic service was held for Voskanyan at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, followed by a graveside service at Grand View Memorial Park in Glendale. Over 100 mourners attended the services. Akopyan voiced his hope for justice, stating, "Because [the suspect] took an innocent man’s life." Grigoryan questioned the motivation behind the attack, emphasizing that Voskanyan's circumstances at the time of his death should not diminish the value of his life, adding, "It doesn’t matter how the guy was living at that moment. You don’t have to take a knife and kill somebody."
Lawantara's attorney has claimed the stabbing was an act of self-defense, asserting that Voskanyan initiated a physical confrontation. However, Judge Keith Schwartz reportedly remarked on the severity of the attack, describing it as being "stabbed him repeatedly, like in a horror movie." Lawantara was released on $2 million bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 5.
