Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recently announced the charges against two men in connection with the murder of Robert Dehnoushi, a music promoter and manager affiliated with the Iranian singer Googoosh. According to a release by the District Attorney's Office, Dehnoushi was shot to death in the early morning of August 15 in a Glendale strip mall's parking lot.
The suspects, Jerry Tolentino and Arman Martinyan are accused of having followed Dehnoushi to a restaurant before Tolentino allegedly opened fire. The shooting took place near Arden and Pacific avenues and witnesses reported that the gunman had been waiting on a motorcycle. "Our community is mourning the loss of Mr. Robert Dehnoushi," Gascón said, in a statement obtained by the District Attorney's Office. He described the act as "senselessly shot and killed in an act of unimaginable violence."
Jerry Tolentino faces additional charges due to his prior criminal record; he was convicted of carjacking in 2007 in San Bernardino County. Alongside the murder charges, he is being charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. The District Attorney's Office described the crime as premeditated, laying charges that both Tolentino and Martinyan murdered Dehnoushi by means of lying in wait. The arrests were made on August 29, more than two weeks following the incident.
The Glendale Police Department is involved in the investigation and the case falls under the purview of LADA’s Organized Crime Division. If convicted as charged, Tolentino could face life without parole plus an additional 15 years, while Martinyan could also be sentenced to life without parole. Both are being held without bail and are expected to be arraigned on September 20, as reported by the District Attorney's Office and confirmed by local news outlet KTLA, whose coverage included witness statements about the circumstances of the shooting.
