Suspect Identified in East Pasadena Shooting That Left 2 Dead

The death of a man killed during a police encounter late last month has been ruled a homicide according to information on the LA County Coroner’s website.

The suspect, Devin Edward Hall, 24, of Inglewood fatally shot Pasadena resident Gevork Minissian, 70, just after 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 in the 600 block of Sunnyslope Avenue, according to police.

Police were originally unsure if Hall died of wounds suffered during his encounter by police or if he committed suicide.

The coroner’s homicide ruling as the cause of death does not mean a crime occurred. Legally, a homicide means the death occurred at the hands of another person.

The coroner can only rule deaths as a homicide, suicide or accidental.

Hall died of multiple gunshot wounds according to information obtained by Pasadena Now on Thursday morning.

According to Pasadena Police Lt. Bill Grisafe, the incident is still being investigated.

“Detectives are still actively investigating this tragic incident in an attempt to find answers as to why this occurred and determine what the connection is between Mr. Hall and Mr. Minissian.”

Grisafe said it is possible that there may not be a connection between the two men other than the fatal encounter.

According to police, after Hall shot Minissian he tried to flee by attempting to carjack a woman, but failed.

Hall exchanged gunfire with police before running to Sunnyslope Avenue, where he allegedly tried to steal a second car, and held the vehicle’s owner at gunpoint in the area of East Villa Street and North Sunnyslope Avenue.

When he fired at police, officers returned fire.

The suspect died in a driveway in the 500 block of North Sunnyslope Avenue at 2:46 p.m., according to Coroner’s spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani.

After the shooting, Police Chief John Perez said Hall exchanged fire with police and was struck at least once.

It is not known if the suspect was fleeing when the fatal shots were fired. However, AB 392 allows police to shoot a fleeing suspect if the officer reasonably believes that the person will cause death or serious bodily injury to another unless immediately apprehended.

Hall had already fatally shot one person, shot at police and taken another person hostage—all of which could represent an immediate threat to the community.

The two women Hall allegedly attempted to carjack were evaluated and treated at the scene for unknown injuries. No officers were reported injured.

The day after the shooting Pasadena native Paola Lomeli told Pasadena Now she was in Sunnyslope Park when the shots broke out.

“It was about 2:30 p.m. when I heard the first round of gunshots,” she said. “About 10 seconds later the next round went off. There was a brief pause. Within a minute I heard police approaching the area. Within the next five minutes, I heard three more gunshots. Instantly police closed down the area and rerouted traffic.”

Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241.

Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.