LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A man who allegedly went on a violent monthlong crime spree that ended when he was shot by police after a wrong-way freeway crash pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges on Tuesday, May 10.
Artyom Gasparyan, 32, is charged with the Dec. 30 shooting death of Adan Correa, a 37-year-old father of two, in Panorama City.
Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to pursue the death penalty for the defendant, who faces a special circumstance allegation of an intentional shooting from a motor vehicle.
He is also charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, seven counts of second-degree robbery, two counts each of carjacking and fleeing police while driving recklessly and one count each of hit-and-run driving resulting in injury, assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon involving alleged crimes between Dec. 6 and Jan. 4.
He is charged separately with one count each of attempted murder and assault involving alleged crimes last Aug. 5.
Gasparyan had a lengthy hospitalization and missed numerous court hearings after being shot by police Jan. 4 following a wrong-way crash on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Sun Valley.
His attorney told a judge on Monday that Gasparyan is “unable to walk” and is in “tremendous pain” as a result of being shot in the shoulders, arm, hand and foot.
In January, Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck alleged that Gasparyan committed a string of crimes stretching from Burbank to Long Beach to West Hollywood to Carson and Panorama City.
“He’s been involved in several carjackings, several armed robberies, at least one homicide, at least four attempted homicides and is a very, very dangerous individual,” Beck said, adding that more than 100 LAPD detectives and “several hundred” line officers were specifically assigned to track him down.
Authorities said Gasparyan was also tied to another police pursuit that began on New Year’s Day near the Harbor Gateway area and ended when his alleged accomplice, Daniel Ramirez, shot himself in the head at a Long Beach home in the 3300 block of Daisy Avenue after shooting two men and stabbing another.
Ramirez died of his wounds, and the other men survived.
Police said Gasparyan’s alleged crimes also include a Dec. 9 shooting in Burbank, where a 67-year-old man was shot multiple times at his home and a 33- year-old gardener was wounded.
Gasparyan was also allegedly linked to shootings in the Panorama City area on Dec. 30 that left three people wounded.