A man fatally shot two family members near his late wife’s grave in an Ontario cemetery before taking his own life, authorities said Sunday.

Karapet Kalajian, 71, was waiting in his car at Bellevue Memorial Park on Saturday -- the eve of the anniversary of his wife’s death -- when three family members arrived in another car, Ontario police Sgt. Jeff Higbee said.

The three relatives walked toward the grave of Kalajian’s wife, who died Jan 3, 2011, after succumbing to complications from cancer, Higbee said.

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Kalajian then stepped from his car and walked toward his wife’s sister, Hripsime Minasyan, 59, and her husband, Misak Minasyan, 60, and opened fire. The couple, who lived in North Hollywood, died from their injuries.

Kalajian then shot himself. The third relative, an elderly woman, was unharmed. Her identity was not released.

Higbee said the graveside murder-suicide was motivated by Kalajian’s difficulties in the years since his wife’s death.

For more than a year, Kalajian had become estranged from his extended family, Higbee said.


The shooting is under investigation by the Ontario Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call (909) 395-2912.

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